By William Agda
The entire island of Siargao in Surigao del Norte has been without electricity since 4 a.m. on Sunday, December 1, due to a fault in the 34.5 MV submarine cable supplying power to the island. The blackout, which comes at the start of the busy holiday tourism season, has left residents and business owners anxious as no timeline for power restoration has been provided.
The Siargao Electric Cooperative Incorporated (SIARELCO), in a statement, attributed the power outage to a damaged submarine cable connecting Barangay Cagdianao in Claver town to Barangay Doña Helen in Socorro. SIARELCO announced that technical experts are scheduled to arrive on December 3 to assess and repair the damage.
“At this time, there is no definite schedule for power restoration. We are exerting every effort to resolve this issue as quickly as possible,” SIARELCO said, adding that coordination with experts is ongoing to locate and address the fault.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) clarified that the submarine cable is owned and maintained by SIARELCO, and their transmission facilities are operating normally. However, NGCP has sent a team to assist SIARELCO in its efforts to expedite repairs.
Surigao del Norte 1st District Representative Bingo Matugas called for patience and assured residents that all necessary steps are being taken to restore power. “Rest assured, all necessary steps are being taken to restore power to the island at the earliest opportunity,” Matugas said.
The blackout has had a significant impact on the island’s economy, particularly on small businesses reliant on consistent power during the peak tourist season. Many homestay, hostel, and small resort owners have expressed concerns about lost revenue and operational challenges.
The blackout underscores the need for long-term solutions to ensure stable electricity supply for Siargao, a key tourist destination known as the “surfing capital of the Philippines.” Without timely repairs and improvements, the ongoing power issues risk further economic losses and damage to the island’s reputation as a premier holiday destination.