The Department of Energy (DOE) confirmed that electricity has been fully restored in Boracay Island and its nearby towns after a three-day outage caused by damaged underground transmission cables near the Caticlan Airport.

The blackout began on September 13 when the Nabas-Unidos 69 kV line tripped, cutting off supply to Boracay, Malay, and Buruanga in Aklan province.

To speed up restoration, eight teams from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO) were deployed to locate and repair the fault. With clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), workers constructed an 800-meter temporary overhead line along the airport runway perimeter. The Philippine National Police (PNP) also assisted by securing the area to ensure safe operations.

Work was briefly halted overnight due to high tide but resumed at first light. By 2:55 PM on September 15, power supply was restored to the affected areas.

Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin assured that the safety of the community and repair teams guided every decision. “Power is restored, and our teams remain on site to stabilize the system and complete permanent repairs,” she said.

NGCP crews continue permanent restoration of the underground cables. At the same time, the grid operator is advancing the Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay Transmission Line Project, which the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered for completion within the year. The project aims to strengthen Boracay’s transmission backbone and support the island’s growing energy needs driven by tourism and economic activity.

What further infrastructure improvements do you think Boracay needs to ensure a stable and resilient power supply in the future?

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