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Fresh power disruptions in Siargao this January have again highlighted weaknesses in the island’s electricity network, prompting non-profit organization ILAW Pilipinas to push for immediate reforms as outages begin to drag on economic activity. The advocacy group warned that recurring blackouts are eroding confidence among residents and businesses already strained by unreliable power.
ILAW said the most recent outage struck on January 9, coming on the heels of a prolonged December shutdown that affected Siargao and neighboring Bucas Grande Island. That earlier blackout was triggered when an uprooted tree damaged a 34.5-kilovolt (kV) subtransmission line operated by the Siargao Electric Cooperative (Siarelco) in Barangay Doña Helen, Socorro, causing its protection system to trip and cut power across large parts of the islands.
“These incidents of power interruption have exposed the weaknesses in Siargao’s power system,” highlighted Beng Garcia, national convenor of Ilaw Pilipinas. “Every blackout costs a hefty price for Siargao’s local economy. The island needs real, long-term energy security.”
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The blackout that shook Siargao
The group pointed out that the latest outage occurred almost a year after a massive blackout in December 2024, caused by a fault in the submarine cable linking Barangay Cagdianao in Claver to Barangay Doña Helen.
During this time, Siargao Island and nearby Bucas Grande experienced one of the longest and most disruptive power outages in recent memory, lasting for two weeks. The event prompted the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Surigao del Norte to declare a state of calamity, authorizing the local government to immediately mobilize emergency funding, enabling swift repairs to the power supply and support for other urgent recovery requirements.
The extended blackout stemmed from a line fault in a 34.5 kV submarine cable connecting the islands to the mainland power grid. Investigators determined that the fault occurred in the section between Barangay Cagdianao in Claver and Barangay Doña Helen in Socorro. This submarine cable is Siargao’s main power lifeline — without it, the entire grid collapses.
The extended blackout disrupted daily life far beyond the loss of electricity, leaving many residents without reliable access to water as pumping systems ground to a halt. It took Siarelco 11 days after the incident to pinpoint the source of the outage: a defect along a 1.6-kilometer stretch of submarine cable, which technicians later recovered from the seabed and repaired.
In a Facebook post, the power provider said the damage resulted from normal wear and tear. According to Siarelco, the fault developed in a portion of the cable lying near sharp coral formations, where constant sea currents caused repeated contact and eventual insulation failure.
The explanation, however, did little to quell public anger. In the comments section, users voiced frustration and questioned accountability. One wrote, “This should’ve been prevented,” while another described the incident as “a reflection of poor maintenance”, noting that the submarine cable has been in service for decades.
According to the Center for Energy Research and Policy (CERP), the submarine cable that failed in December 2024 was 41 years old, underscoring the risks of depending on aging infrastructure to deliver electricity to remote communities. Experts warn that a cable of this age is highly vulnerable, and similar breakdowns are likely unless the system is upgraded or replaced.
Tourists were advised to defer travel to Siargao as the island-wide blackout continued to take a toll on the local economy. The Surigao del Norte Public Information Office highlighted that the power disruption has severely affected tourism, forcing at least 21 establishments to temporarily shut down operations while electricity remains unavailable.
CERP estimated the blackout caused roughly ₱1.09 billion in economic damage. Tourism businesses reported losing ₱10,000 to ₱30,000 in daily incomeduring the peak holiday period, triggering booking cancellations and forcing many resorts, hotels, and restaurants to shut temporarily.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) noted that only a handful of water stations were equipped with generators, forcing residents to travel to neighboring towns to buy water. The shortage has also driven up the price of ice, which has nearly doubled from ₱700 to ₱800 to as high as ₱1,500.
A 4.4-megawatt (MW) generator was transported to Siargao from Lanao del Norte to provide interim power while repairs on the submarine cable are ongoing.
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Why reliable power matters for Siargao
Siargao remains one of the Philippines’ top destinations for surfing and leisure, drawing 112,510 visitors in the first quarter of 2025, including 77,202 domestic tourists and 35,308 foreign arrivals.
In August 2025, the Department of Tourism (DOT) highlighted the ongoing expansion of Siargao Airport as a major milestone in positioning the island as a world-class travel destination. Plans include a new Tourist Rest Area and the first-ever Tourist First Aid Facility, designed to complement the airport upgrade and cruise port terminal, improving safety, comfort, and convenience for visitors.
The project, scheduled for completion in 2026, will boost the terminal’s capacity from 200 to at least 750 passengers at a time, allowing the island to handle growing visitor numbers. DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco noted that tourism growth depends not only on natural attractions but also on solid infrastructure, seamless connectivity, and high-quality services.
Yet with the island’s power supply still fragile, questions remain about the impact of these upgrades. Without stable electricity, even modern facilities and expanded capacity may fall short of ensuring a smooth, safe, and reliable experience for tourists, putting both visitor confidence and the local economy at risk.
After the island’s 2024 blackout, CERP urged that energy security be fully integrated into tourism planning, warning that unreliable power threatens the country’s top destinations. The group stressed that stable electricity is vital for sustainable tourism, which contributed ₱3.86 trillion, or 8.9% of GDP, and provided jobs for 13.82% of the Philippine workforce in 2024.
“Energy disruptions have a profound ripple effect on tourism activities, causing both direct and indirect economic impacts,” emphasized Yla Paras, CERP lead economist. “The tourism industry can only function and thrive with a stable and sufficient electricity supply.”
Meanwhile, ILAW asserted that the island’s recurring power outages have also taken a toll on education, forcing schools to suspend classes during blackouts. “Blackouts cause students to lose learning time and teachers to lose productivity, which ultimately causes the community to lose momentum,” said ILAW Pilipinas Youth Convenor Francine Pradez.
The group called on government agencies to recognize Siargao’s electricity challenges as a critical national economic concern. ILAW stressed the importance of expanding and diversifying power sources on the island to strengthen resilience, safeguard communities, and prevent future disruptions.
Siarelco’s performance & local frustrations
Persistent power issues on Siargao have increasingly been linked not only to infrastructure failures but also to service shortcomings attributed to Siarelco. In focus group discussions conducted by ILAW, the electric cooperative received an overall service rating of 4.6 out of 10, with frequent outages and voltage fluctuations cited as recurring problems that disrupt operations and damage equipment.
Local sentiment mirrors these findings. Residents and visitors alike have taken to social platforms to express frustration over inconsistent updates, unpredictable brownouts, and perceived slow responses to complaints. A Reddit user commented, “Not sure what’s the process but Siquijor was able to change their electricity supplier. Hope it happens to Siargao, too.”
These performance concerns have fed broader calls for accountability, infrastructure upgrades, and modernization to ensure that Siargao’s power system can meet the demands of its growing tourism economy and daily life.
Long-term solutions
Recently, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved a ₱11.86-billion project aimed at securing stable electricity for Siargao Island. The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) received the go-ahead to carry out its Claver-Siargao Interconnection Project (CSIP), which will establish a new 69-kV connection from the Cagdianao line in Dinagat Islands to Siargao.
The initiative includes laying a 42-kilometer submarine cable linking the switching stations in Claver, Surigao del Norte, and Dapa on Siargao Island. Once completed, the project is expected to strengthen the island’s power supply, reduce outages, and support both residential needs and the growing tourism-driven economy.
ERC simulations indicate that without the proposed project, Siargao could face around 715 million kilowatt-hours of unserved energy over the next 15 years. Meeting this shortfall through alternative power sources is estimated to cost approximately ₱12.57 billion, highlighting the financial and operational stakes of delaying the upgrade.
However, the ₱11.9 -billion Claver–Siargao transmission line is slated for completion by June 2030, which means Siargao’s electricity supply remains vulnerable. The existing 41-year-old submarine cable has already failed, and without ongoing maintenance, similar outages are likely to recur.
With tourism and local businesses driving growing demand, the island cannot afford to wait years for a new line. To protect economic growth and support livelihoods, the new transmission line must be expedited rather than left until 2030.
The stakes extend beyond Siargao. Frequent blackouts not only threaten the island’s economy but also risk the nation’s reputation, as tourists can easily opt for other destinations, potentially diverting valuable revenue and investment away from the Philippines.
Sources:
https://powerphilippines.com/ilaw-calls-for-urgent-power-reforms-after-another-siargao-blackout
https://www.philstar.com/business/2026/01/22/2502543/erc-oks-p119-billion-ngcp-line-siargao
https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/611573/siargao-fault-in-submarine-cable-causes-power-outage
https://powerphilippines.com/submarine-cable-fault-leaves-siargao-without-power
https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/09/siargao-airport-expansion-sets-course-for-tourism-transformation-dot
https://www.ohohleo.ph/2025/03/cultureph-power-struggles-how-electric.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/SiargaoPH/comments/1p23h1e/siarelcoelectricity_issues
https://www.philstar.com/business/2026/01/22/2502543/erc-oks-p119-billion-ngcp-line-siargao
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2026/01/22/ngcp-siargao-project-gets-approval
