From December 1 to 13, 2024, Siargao experienced an island-wide power outage. The issue stemmed from a line ground fault that tripped the 34.5 kV breaker at the Barangay Cagdianao Substation in Claver, disrupting the submarine cable connection to mainland Mindanao.
The prolonged power outage left residents struggling not only with electricity but also with water supply, as many communities rely on pumps to access water.
As SIARELCO, (Siargao Electric Cooperative, Inc.), the primary power supplier for over 36,000 households and businesses in nine municipalities, strived to address the crisis, the Surigao del Norte Provincial Board declared a state of calamity on December 10. “The declaration will empower local authorities to implement necessary measures to address the economic and social challenges brought about by the prolonged power outage,” said Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers.
Locating the damage
It was only on December 12 when SIARELCO was able to identify the cause of the blackout: a fault in a 1.6-kilometer section of a submarine cable, which was retrieved from the seabed and repaired by technical experts.
On its Facebook page, the power provider explained that the damage to the submarine cable was caused by normal wear and tear. The fault occurred in a section of the cable located near sharp-edged corals, where sea currents caused repeated contact, leading to insulation damage. SIARELCO also emphasized that the rest of the cable remained in good condition and did not deteriorate.
In this post’s comments section, Facebook users expressed frustration and called for greater accountability. One user remarked, “This should’ve been prevented,” while another criticized the repair, describing it as “a temporary Band-Aid fix to a woefully inadequate 34.5 Kilo Volt (34,500-volt) 30-year-old submarine cable that should be replaced with a modern, larger cable.” A third user added that the damage was “a reflection of poor maintenance”, considering the submarine cable has been in use for more than thirty years.
To supplement the power supply while the cable was being repaired, modular generator sets with a total combined capacity of 16 MW were brought in. SIARELCO ensured that these would “ensure sufficient power supply for Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands.”
Significant opportunity costs
Janis Medina-Reginio of the Surigao del Norte Public Information Office advised tourists to postpone travel to Siargao until after December 20, when the generator sets are expected to provide sufficient power for normal activities to resume.
Still, Reginio noted that the blackout has significantly impacted tourism, with 21 establishments on the island temporarily closing until power is restored.
Meanwhile, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDDRM) Officer Cicero Cosme P. Tripoli pointed out that homestays in General Luna, unlike larger hotels with generators, were heavily impacted.
He also stated that the power outage has led to price increases, especially at businesses relying on generator sets for operation. “Our communication with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has revealed price hikes, especially at water refilling stations, due to the added operational expenses from using generator sets,” Tivoli explained.
A business owner lamented, “Fluctuations were already a problem for us here, but now we’re losing revenues of up to P100,000 per day due to this week-long power interruption. Kawawa ang mga negosyo dito na walang generators” (Businesses without generators are in a tough situation.)
Siargao, considered the “Surfing Capital of the Philippines”, attracted 14,404 tourists in the first half of 2024 alone. Its white-sand beaches and surfing spots, including the world-famous Cloud 9, are a huge draw for both local and foreign tourists.
The power outage also affected both the water supply and the livelihoods of its residents. According to Jireh Dorothy, a staff member of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) and a local of San Benito, only a few water stations have generators, forcing some residents to travel from other municipalities to buy water. This has also led to a sharp rise in the price of ice, which was previously priced between P700 and P800 but has now nearly doubled, reaching as high as P1,500.
As Dorothy explained, “Livelihood ng fisherfolk namin naapektuhan…ang ibang fisherfolk, hindi na nakakapag-livelihood.” (Livelihoods of our fisherfolk have been impacted… others can’t even continue their work).
The power outage has also caused a surge in oil prices, further escalating costs for local businesses. She added, “May ibang mga hotel, parang nalulugi na siguro sila kasi on ang generator 24/7… nagmamahalan na rin ang fuel.” (Some hotels might be losing money because they have to run their generators 24/7… fuel prices are also skyrocketing.
Reliable and sufficient power needed
While the Surigao del Norte Public Information Office stated that rotational brownouts would occur only until December 20, a look at SIARELCO’s Facebook page revealed an unscheduled power interruption on December 26.
In January 2024, Panay Island experienced a similar crisis: a complete three-day blackout due to the malfunction of key power plants. This event led to substantial economic repercussions, with Iloilo Province reportedly facing losses amounting to around PHP 3.8 billion.
This incident, coupled with Siargao’s recent experience, highlights the vulnerabilities in the country’s energy infrastructure, particularly on tourism-dependent islands.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri called on the Department of Energy (DoE) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to act quickly to address the chronic power outages in Siargao, emphasizing their negative impact on the island’s tourism-based economy.
“I also want to urge the DoE and NEA to find a long-term solution to the power problems on Siargao,” he said.
Sources:
https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/611573/siargao-fault-in-submarine-cable-causes-power-outage
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1079955267261092&set=a.604246878165269
https://tribune.net.ph/2024/12/06/zubiri-laments-power-outages-in-siargao
https://www.facebook.com/siarelco/posts/pfbid0Qp8KemLiHNL8QM6PHFut2prNfFRKuys5muWMJa1YeketvfmjNE72U1ALcH1tRC5Xl
