Gabriela–Southern Mindanao strongly condemned the Davao Light and Power Company (Davao Light) for imposing more than ₱2 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) rate increase. The company raised its rates from ₱9.7135/kWh to ₱11.7187/kWh in January. The hike covers Davao City, Panabo City, and the municipalities of Braulio E. Dujali, Carmen, and Santo Tomas in Davao del Norte.

The company had earlier already raised its rates three times in the past two years. It hiked rates by ₱1.6254/kWh in May 2024. It again raised them by ₱2.9601/kWh in July 2024, and by another ₱0.0887/kWh in July 2025.

The latest increase added ₱401.04 per month to the bill of a household consuming 200 kWh. The new rates took effect on January 11.

Aside from Davao Light, the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (NORDECO) also raised its rates by ₱2/kWh, from ₱12.70/kWh to ₱14.81/kWh.

According to the group, these hikes result from neoliberal economic policies in which the government systematically abandons its duty to provide basic services to the people. The state has instead handed them over to private corporations whose primary aim is to amass profit.

“This is an additional burden and hardship for women and poor communities,” Gabriela–SMR said.

Meanwhile, other consumer groups in Davao challenged the charges imposed by the Marcos regime, such as the Green Energy Auction Allowance (GEA-All) and the Feed-In Tariff Allowance (FIT-All), fees passed on by oil companies to consumers. They also pushed for the removal of the 12% VAT on electricity amid the relentless surge in utility rates.