Emiere (11th standing from left) energizes Tugbok Substation in 2015 while she was assigned to Power Systems and Design Department.
Engineer Emiere “Emz” Daplin-Lingatong has established her career in Davao Light and Power Co. Inc., an AboitizPower subsidiary, for 14 years. Recently, she was promoted to Supervisor for Network Operations of the System Operations Department (SOD) of Davao Light which operates 24/7.
She is often seen donning a simple dress layered with a company jacket when reporting to work. She has a gentle temperament, despite handling one of the most stressful jobs in the utility company, which is to ensure that there is enough electric supply for the entire franchise area of Davao Light in Davao City and in Davao del Norte.
Before she became a Davao Light employee, Emiere was a Davao Light scholar in college which she is very grateful for as it was instrumental for her to finish the degree she desires and landed her the job she enjoys.
Raised among five siblings in a middle-class family, Emiere thought serendipity led her to become who she is today. She loved math in high school so she naturally chose an engineering course in college. In her first year, Emiere enrolled in Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE) but shifted to Electrical Engineering after considering the job market at that time. “Everything just fell into place,” Emiere said in wonder. “I had no fixed idea about my future. I was just sure that I want to work in Davao Light,” Emiere added.
Emiere is the first woman assigned as lines design engineer, substation design engineer, network protection engineer, and it is the first time as well that a woman is assigned as a Network Operations Supervisor. “I have to break the barrier; proving that women can do what men can,”, she said as she recalled the various titles she earned while working in Davao Light. “The management supports equal career opportunities for both men and women,” Emiere marveled at the growing population of women engineers employed in Davao Light.
The Systems Operation Department monitors the entire franchise area of Davao Light during the Elections 2022.
The System Operations Department also manages both planned and unplanned interruptions using the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. The SCADA system uses fiber optic cable and microwave wireless communications to perform key functions such as monitoring and controlling distant electrical devices and equipment installed in the power distribution network of Davao Light.
“The heaviness of the responsibility lies in how we make sure that the devices are always online and what we programmed is accurately depicted on the site,” Emiere explained how important the SCADA system is to the overall operations of Davao Light.
Now a mother of two, her promotion as a network operations supervisor came with different challenges. “I appreciate my mother more these days, especially on how she managed her career while keeping her home intact. I answer calls even on Sundays or during my days off when there is a need for my intervention. I can even wash the dishes and cook breakfast while answering a call!” Emiere described how she managed to multitask her roles as a wife, a mother, and an engineer at the same time.
Her husband is also an engineer working in Davao Light, so they have to manage their schedules to always have someone look after the kids when there are no helpers around. “My work life and family life are intertwined. I can’t treat them separately. I go to sleep with my cellphone and tablet beside me, so my team can reach me anytime,” Emiere explained that emergencies can happen anytime and there are times when she has to make a decision immediately.
“Our role is very vital because we can control the entire franchise area [of Davao Light] with just one click of a finger. On the one hand, we manage unplanned power interruptions and minimize the affected customers by transferring the lines from one substation to another. On the other hand, we create and implement the load transfer plans for planned power interruptions, ensuring that all household’s electricity is restored when we shut down our line or substation for a long period of time,” Emiere described how important their role is in the day-to-day operations of the utility company.
When asked how she intends to leave her mark while working at Davao Light, Emiere replied, “I want to be part of the growth of other engineers while making my living. I want to help others build their own competency and career as a way of giving back to my previous mentors and teachers.”
When she is not being an engineer, a mother, or a wife, Emiere enjoys her rare time off watching Korean Dramas on a popular streaming app from her tablet.