DAVAO CITY — As residential electricity rates continue their upward climb, Davao City Councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang is urging Davao Light to “stop, recalibrate, and fully explain” the series of power rate increases that have steadily driven up the monthly electric bills of Dabawenyos.

Dayanghirang said the rising cost of electricity has become another financial burden for families already grappling with higher prices of food, fuel, transportation, and other essential commodities.

Based on Davao Light’s published customer advisories, residential electricity rates have increased from ₱9.71 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in December 2025 to ₱13.09 per kWh for the July 11 to August 10, 2026 billing period—an overall increase of ₱3.38 per kWh, or approximately 34.8 percent, in just seven months.

The rate movements show a pattern of successive increases:• December 2025 – ₱9.71/kWh• January 2026 – ₱11.72/kWh (+₱2.01)• March 2026 – ₱10.63/kWh (-₱1.09)• May 2026 – ₱10.35/kWh (-₱0.28)• June 2026 – ₱12.30/kWh (+₱1.95)• July 11–August 10, 2026 – ₱13.09/kWh (+₱0.79)

While Davao Light has attributed the increases to higher generation charges, elevated Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) prices, power plant outages, maintenance shutdowns, and tighter electricity supply, Dayanghirang said consumers deserve a more comprehensive explanation of why these increases have become frequent and substantial.

“The public deserves more than brief advisories. They deserve a clear and comprehensive explanation of why electricity rates continue to rise, what factors are driving these increases, and what measures are being taken to stabilize electricity prices,” Dayanghirang said.

How Davao Compares

Dayanghirang noted that Davao Light’s current residential rate of ₱13.09/kWh is only slightly lower than the rates being charged by Meralco, which recently exceeded ₱14/kWh.He also pointed out that many other areas in the country continue to enjoy significantly lower electricity rates.

Electric cooperatives and distribution utilities in parts of Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, and Mindanao have residential rates generally ranging from ₱9 to ₱11 per kWh, while hydroelectric-dependent areas can post even lower generation costs depending on supply conditions.

The councilor further observed that electricity prices in several neighboring ASEAN countries remain considerably lower than those paid by many Filipino consumers:

• Philippines: around ₱13–14/kWh

• Singapore: around ₱13–14/kWh

• Thailand: around ₱8/kWh

• Vietnam: around ₱5–6/kWh

• Indonesia: around ₱6–7/kWh

• Malaysia: around ₱3–4/kWh

• Brunei: around ₱1–2/kWh

• Laos: around ₱2–3/kWh

“These comparisons naturally raise questions among consumers. Dabawenyos want to understand why electricity in our city continues to become more expensive despite Mindanao’s significant power generation capacity,” Dayanghirang said.

He clarified that every country’s power sector operates under different regulatory frameworks and energy mixes, but stressed that consumers deserve to understand why local rates continue to rise.

Beyond Household Bills

Dayanghirang stressed that the impact of rising electricity rates extends far beyond residential consumers.Higher electricity costs also translate to increased operating expenses for businesses, potentially leading to higher prices for goods and services.

The City Government likewise absorbs the impact through higher utility expenses for public hospitals, health centers, schools, government offices, traffic signal systems, pumping stations, street lighting, and other essential public facilities—all funded by taxpayers.

“As electricity rates increase, government operating costs also increase. Ultimately, it is the taxpayers who shoulder these additional expenses,” he noted.

Call for Transparency

The councilor said nearly two million Dabawenyos deserve a clear accounting of why electricity costs have risen so sharply in recent months.

“Almost two million residents of Davao City deserve a clear explanation. The people have the right to know why their electricity bills continue to increase month after month. Transparency should accompany every rate adjustment because consumers are the ones paying for it.”

He reiterated that reliable, transparent, and reasonably priced electricity remains vital not only to household welfare but also to sustaining economic growth and ensuring efficient delivery of public services in Davao City.

With electricity affecting virtually every sector—from homes and businesses to government operations—Dayanghirang said greater transparency from the power distributor is essential to maintaining public confidence and ensuring that consumers fully understand the basis for the successive rate adjustments.