By Jose San Vicente
The walls of defiance are crumbling, and the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco) can no longer hide behind legal smokescreens. In an official public notice dated March 12, 2026, Nordeco finally admitted that its motions for reconsideration filed at the local courts to block the transition have been officially denied. It is undeniably apparent that Nordeco’s choices are now severely limited, and its persistent efforts to delay the mandated turnover process under Republic Act (RA) 12144 are entirely futile.
The Admission of Defeat
For months, Nordeco’s leadership promised its member-consumer-owners (MCOs) that the courts would strike down the Davao Light Expansion Act. However, their March 12 public advisory serves as a tacit admission of its legal defeat, acknowledging that the company received the denial of its Motions for Reconsideration from Regional Trial Courts Branch 2 in Tagum City and Branch 4 in Panabo City via email on March 11, 2026.
The reality on the ground has been absolute since early this year. On January 14, 2026, the Supreme Court officially dismissed Nordeco’s petitions to nullify the law and effectively denied its bid for a Temporary Restraining Order. Furthermore, the Regional Trial Court in Panabo City lawfully issued a Writ of Possession, authorizing the court sheriff to turn over physical control of Samal’s distribution assets to Davao Light and Power Company (Davao Light). Desperate attempts by Nordeco to brand these lawful court orders as “MOB rule” or “TOTALLY ILLEGAL” only highlight its complete lack of remaining legal recourse.
A Downward Spiral of Debt
What lies ahead if Nordeco’s leadership continues to resist? Only a catastrophic financial and operational downward spiral. The cooperative is already suffocating under the weight of massive mismanagement and liabilities. Due to its failure to settle a staggering power debt reaching nearly ₱380 million, the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) suspended Nordeco from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). Prolonging this standoff will only deplete whatever meager resources the cooperative has left, pushing it closer to absolute financial ruin.
Time to Abandon a Sinking Ship
It is time for the hardworking employees and the long-suffering MCOs of Nordeco to stop supporting this wasteful and hopeless defiance. There is absolutely no hope, no upside, and no victory ahead down this path of resistance.
* For the Employees: Choosing to go down with a sinking ship jeopardizes the future of your families. The transition mechanism under RA 12144 explicitly mandates that Davao Light must give preference to hiring former Nordeco personnel. Local officials, such as Samal Mayor Lemuel Reyes, have already urged displaced Nordeco workers to approach them so they can be endorsed for employment with Davao Light, which has publicly confirmed its doors are open to qualified applicants from the cooperative. Securing your livelihood under a stable, modern utility company is the most logical step to take.
* For the MCOs: The continuation of this blockade only guarantees more of the same: exorbitant electricity rates and chronic, paralyzing blackouts. While Davao Light’s residential rate sits significantly lower at around P10.30 to P11.72 per kilowatt-hour, Nordeco’s rate soared to as high as P12.14 to P14.90 per kilowatt-hour in early 2026. Furthermore, the law ensures that the purchase of Nordeco’s assets will be placed in an escrow account specifically to settle its outstanding debts to legitimate creditors.
It is time to abandon Nordeco and the futile attempts of its management. The courts have spoken, and Nordeco’s own March 12 admission confirms its defeated legal strategy. By ending the stalling tactics and embracing the peaceful handover mandated by law, employees can secure their jobs, consumers can finally enjoy reliable and affordable power, and the entire region can move forward out of the dark.
