The Aboitiz-owned Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. inaugurated its 29th distribution substation on Tuesday to further assure full energy support to the industrial estate in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.
The substation is located in Barangay San Pedro, Panabo, 35 kilometers northeast of here, and has a capacity of 10 megavolt-ampere (MVA) 69, or 13.8 kilovolt (kV). The San Pedro substation was energized on August 2 and successfully loaded on August 8, the Davao Light said.
It said the new substation was designed to meet the power demands of the 63-hectare agro-industrial park, Anflo Industrial Estate (AIE), which is a special economic zone accredited by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
This was the fourth substation in Panabo City and the facility will increase power capacity across the city and its surrounding communities.
The Davao Light said the inauguration marked the official completion of Phase 1 of the project. The next phase will be designed for long-term load expansion to add 33 MVA capacity and is set for completion by December next year.
Upon completion, the Phase 2 facility will operate as a fully digital substation with automated monitoring and real-time data transmission, allowing Davao Light engineers to identify and resolve issues efficiently. The facility will also incorporate sustainable features, including a solar power system for lighting and other facility needs, as well as a rainwater harvesting system to support cleaning and routine maintenance.
The project is part of Davao Light’s ongoing network upgrading and expansion to support growing power demand across its franchise area.
‘The San Pedro Substation powers the economic engines in the AIE, Panabo, and neighboring areas,’ said Davao Light President and Chief Operating Officer Enriczar Tia. ‘By strengthening the power grid in Davao del Norte, we are helping ensure reliable electricity for businesses and communities while providing the capacity needed to support continued growth in the area. This milestone reflects Davao Light’s continuing investment in a stronger and more resilient distribution network to meet the evolving needs of the communities we serve.’
The new facility will also strengthen the Davao Light presence across the province and of Davao de Oro, whose franchise has been handed over to it from the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco). The company is now in its 80th year since it started in Davao City.