Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), through its distribution utility Davao Light and Power Company (Davao Light), has begun a major power infrastructure project that will connect the Island Garden City of Samal to the mainland grid in Davao City through a submarine cable.

The company recently completed the laying of a 1,015-meter submarine cable across the Pakiputan Strait, marking a historic first for Davao Light and an initial step toward integrating the island’s power network with the mainland grid.

The cable was installed using a specialized cable-laying vessel supported by boats, divers, and technical experts, with the route mapped to minimize environmental impact.

The interconnection project forms part of a 69-kilovolt power link between Samal and Davao City. Succeeding phases will involve divers securing the submarine cables underwater and the construction of cable terminal stations at both ends of the connection.

The project is expected to be completed by mid-2026 and is aimed at improving power network stability while supporting the growing electricity demand in Samal.

“Davao Light is ready, poised, and equipped to serve the people, communities, and businesses of the Island Garden City of Samal,” said Davao Light President and COO Enriczar Tia.

For years, Samal has experienced power reliability issues due to aging infrastructure and network maintenance concerns. Frequent outages have disrupted households and businesses and affected the island’s potential as a tourism destination.

Local officials previously estimated that the city incurred annual economic losses of around PHP 120 million to PHP 150 million since the 2010s due to unresolved power issues.

The Energy Regulatory Commission granted provisional authority for Davao Light’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, which allowed the submarine cable interconnection project to proceed.

Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib welcomed the development, describing it as a turning point for the province.

“This may be one document but this spells a brighter future and a better life to the people of Davao del Norte,” Jubahib said.

Samal Mayor Lemuel Reyes also said improved electricity reliability could help attract investors and generate more jobs on the island.

“With the expected stability in the power network, we look to attract investors and generate more jobs for our people here in Samal,” Reyes said.

Republic Act No. 12144, which took effect in April 2025, expanded Davao Light’s franchise area to include Samal and several other areas in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro. The law’s legality was affirmed by the Supreme Court in January 2026.

How important are grid interconnection projects like the Davao–Samal link in improving power reliability for island communities in the Philippines?

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