Solon backs wider franchise area for Davao power firm

and not the ceiling, and should be augmented as they are lower than what has been appropriated for this year.”

For example, the DOH budget will dip from P209.1 billion this year to P199.1 billion next year, as proposed by Malacanang, Recto pointed out.

“The MAIF will get a P10 billion reduction, from this year’s P32.6 billion to the proposed P22.2 billion for 2024, unless both houses of Congress restore it to this year’s level,” he said.

Meanwhile, four Quezon City-based major hospitals—Lung, Kidney, Heart and Children’s Centers—which President Marcos wants to replicate in the regions, will face a combined cut of a most P818 million.

REMEMBERING

NINOY. Ahead of the 40th death anniversary of former Senator Ninoy Aquino Jr., supporters gather at his monument on Ayala Avenue, Makati City on Sunday to pay their respects to the man whose assassination upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from self-exile in the United States brought about the ultimate end to Martial Law in the Philippines.

Danny Pata

By Rio N. Araja PUWERSA ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list Rep. Margarita

Nograles on Sunday raised the urgency for the swift approval of proposals to expand the franchise area of Davao Light and Power Co. (DLPC) to include eight areas in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro ultimately resolve these areas’ electricity woes.

Nograles said she was confident that the expansion of DLPC’s franchise area would receive the endorsement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. even in light of a prior veto on a similar measure as this would allegedly overlap and infringe on the existing franchise of the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative. She stressed that the new measure has clearly laid down the overarching need to uphold the common good and protect the best interest of the people by ensuring improved energy access for more communities and fostering economic growth.

According to her, the urgency to approve DLPC’s bid to cover at least eight areas in the northernDavao region as she pointed out thatNORDECO has been non-compliantwith the terms of their franchise asmandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act resulting in highelectricity cost and constant power interruption that is making life very difficult to many of their clients.

The eight areas included Tagum City, the Island Garden City of Samal, and the municipalities of Asuncion Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro, and Talaingod in Davao delNorte, as well as the town of Macoin Davao de Oro.

Nograles said the proposed expansion of the DLPC franchise area should not be regarded as an impairment of NORDECO’s franchise which mandates the allowance of existing franchises to run their full term.