Samal Island loses P125-M annually due to power woes

IGACOS, Davao del Norte – Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) Mayor Al David Uy bared on Friday that the city's annual economic losses since 2021 amount to an average of PHP125 million due to long-standing power issues.

In a press briefing here, Uy said the city incurred losses of PHP50 million annually in the tourism sector alone, as well as among local businesses (PHP30 million), households (PHP15 million), public services and infrastructure (PHP10 million), and agriculture and fisheries (PHP20 million).

“We are sick and tired but need to move forward,” Uy said.

Currently, the island's power demand hovers between 9 and 10 megawatts.

Uy blamed the problem on the delayed deployment of the submarine cable owned by the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco).

Responding to a Facebook message seeking comment, institutional service manager Marilou Impuesto said Nordeco will answer questions surrounding the project in a press conference in the coming days.

The PHP1.1 billion 14.7-kilometer submarine cable project would connect Barangay Aundanao in Igacos to the Pantukan grid.

Uy also lamented Nordeco's supposed failure to provide updates on the project.

"We continue to suffer from power outages and the residents complain about damaged appliances,” the mayor said.

Uy said the city planned to build its own submarine cable and substation right before the pandemic hit in 2020.

He said the local government could fund PHP300 million to PHP320 million worth of submarine cable.

“We will look at every possible way to procure submarine cables. We can do it by public-private partnerships as long as it is a better way for the city,” he said.

He also asked the Davao del Norte provincial government and the National Electrification Administration for help in solving the city's electricity problems. (PNA)