Lights off, picket versus Davao Light in Agdao

September 24, 2010 - Davao City- Urban poor residents in Agdao held a dramatic 30-minute “lights off” last Monday to protest the power rate increase. The Lihok Agdao alliance, composed of mostly urban poor women from Brgy. Duterte, Centro, Agdao Proper, San Antonio, Ubalde and Lapu-Lapu linked with other members of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) and held a picket rally at R. Castilo St. Ubalde.  

The group lighted candles in the streets to symbolically depict the dark future ahead of them if the DLPC will continue to increase its power rate.  According to Lihok Agdao Spokesperson,Talino Mibolos, “Nagkahiusa kaming mga taga-Agdao batok sa pagtaas sa presyo sa kuryente kay nagkalisod na gyud ang among kinabuhi ug musamot pa gyud og kalisod tungod sa pagtaas sa presyo sa kuryente.”

The group also called for the scrapping of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), the law which is behind the incessant privatization of the basic components of electric industry from generation, transmission to distribution. With the law, foreign power investors and profit greedy corporations have been allowed to pass increased rates to its consumers making the government more inutile in fulfilling its obligation to provide social services like electricity.

Kadamay Spokesperson Franchie Buhayan said, “The anti-power rate increase campaign is continuously gaining greater sympathy among the people from all walks of life. So we can expect there will be more forms of protest to come, and more people to go out from their homes to join the action against this immoral increase.”

For reference:
Franchie Buahayn
KADAMAY Spokesperson
0910-6671009