The Davao City Government awarded two subsidiaries of AboitizPower for being among its biggest taxpayers for 2016 in terms of business and real property tax payments.

Distribution utility Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. (Davao Light) was cited the biggest business taxpayer while power plant operator Therma South, Inc. (TSI) was named the biggest real property taxpayer during the Araw ng Dabaw festivities recently.

City Administrator Zuleika Lopez, representing Mayor Sara Z. Duterte, lauded the support of the city’s top taxpayers for contributing to the growth and development of the city.

“The City Government of Davao is grateful to those in the private sector who religiously pay their taxes, allowing for more projects for the city. Thank you for helping us make Davao City a stronger, safer, cleaner and a more livable city for all,” Lopez said.

Rodger Velasco, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Davao Light, said that the power distribution company, being a law abiding corporate citizen, is committed to pay the right taxes on time.

“This is also a way to give back to the host city and communities where we operate. We are honored and privileged to serve the city of Davao,” he said.

Davao Light, which has been providing power to the city since the 1940s, serves the cities of Davao and Panabo as well as the towns of Sto. Tomas, Carmen, and Dujali.

TSI, on the other hand, operates the 300-MW baseload power plant which delivers power to more than 20 electric cooperatives and distribution utilities in Mindanao. Completed in 2015, the power plant was one of the key investments that brought Mindanao out of its perennial power supply crisis.

“We are thankful and humbled by the City Government’s recognition of our contribution to its local revenue. This is a realization of our earlier commitment to significantly contribute to the continued growth of the city under Mayor Sara Duterte’s leadership”, said TSI Vice President and Plant Manager Valentin S. Saludes III who received the award on behalf of the company.

Last February 27, TSI was also awarded by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) – Collection District 12 as the No. 5 Top Importer for the Port of Davao in terms of duties and taxes paid. BOC District Collector Jamail A. Marahomsalic lauded TSI and the other awardees for “contributing immensely to the attainment of the District goals and collection target of the Port of Davao.”

TSI imports coal from Indonesia in its operation of its Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) thermal power plant in Toril, Davao City.

AboitizPower has long been a partner of the local government of Davao in advancing its communities.

Davao Light, in partnership with the city government of Davao, pioneered in 2002 the cutting-edge Emergency Computer-Aided Dispatch (ECAD) technology, which became the foundation for the successful Central 911 system of the city.  By integrating the emergency response system to Davao Light’s geographic information system, the City’s emergency response became faster, more efficient and more accurate.

In 2016, Davao Light started its Underground Distribution System (UDS), starting with the streets around City Hall. The project has then expanded to other areas.

The UDS project is part of the local government’s initiatives to make the city at par with international standards in keeping the streets more visually appealing. The project also promotes safety and prevents power interruptions caused by objects coming into contact with overhead wires.

The first phase of the project was completed last year covering major streets in the city center. The second phase is set to commence this year.