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If Mindanao wants to keep its economic momentum, its power supply has to keep up. Growth cannot thrive in the dark — and for Mindanao, reliable and affordable electricity is not just an infrastructure issue, it’s an economic imperative.

For years, the region has faced its share of challenges: frequent outages, system losses, and financial constraints among electric cooperatives (ECs). These hurdles have limited the ability of businesses to operate efficiently and communities to develop sustainably.

This was a central theme at the recent Mindanao Business Conference in Tagum City, Davao, where stakeholders discussed what needs to be done to ensure that electricity becomes a catalyst — not a constraint — for Mindanao’s rise.

The High Cost of Unreliable Power

During the conference, Atty. Arnel D. Casanova, Senior Vice President and Chief External & Government Affairs Officer of Meralco, underscored the profound impact of power reliability on businesses.

“Why does this matter for business?” Casanova asked. “Because as members of the Chamber, you know that power — both its cost and its reliability — directly affects your operations. If you run a manufacturing plant, a food processing facility, or even cold storage, an outage doesn’t just flicker the lights. It stops production. It destroys value.”

He noted that Mindanao is currently growing faster than the national average. But without reliable electricity, that trajectory could stall. “If power is not made reliable, that growth will be stunted,” Casanova warned.

A Lesson from Batangas

Casanova pointed to Batangas as a case study in how stable electricity can drive economic transformation. The province recorded a 14.1% compound annual growth rate in energy sales in areas where distribution was strong. As a result, industries moved in, investments followed, and local economies flourished.

“The logic is straightforward,” Casanova explained. “Land and labor may be affordable, but investors will not come if power is unreliable. Conversely, when distribution is strong, industries move in, investments follow, jobs are created, and local economies flourish.”

Partnership for Progress

For Mindanao, the path forward lies in collaboration. Casanova highlighted the need for electric cooperatives and utility providers to work together, leveraging expertise to build a stronger distribution network.

“The numbers speak for themselves. Mindanao is already growing. With stronger utilities, it can grow like Batangas,” he said. “Together — Meralco, the electric cooperatives, and the business community — we can ensure that Mindanao achieves its full potential. By strengthening its distribution backbone, we can build a stronger Mindanao and, in the process, a stronger Philippines.”