Another island-wide power outage in Siargao earlier this month has renewed calls for urgent reforms to strengthen the island’s electricity system, with ILAW Pilipinas warning that repeated blackouts are already weighing heavily on the local economy.

ILAW said the latest unscheduled outage occurred on January 9, following a multi-day blackout in December that left parts of Siargao and Bucas Grande Island without electricity. The December incident was caused by a 34.5-kilovolt protection system tripping after an uprooted tree struck the subtransmission line operated by SIARELCO in Barangay Doña Helen, Socorro.

The group noted that the most recent disruption came nearly a year after a two-week blackout in December 2024, which was traced to a line fault in the 34.5-kilovolt submarine cable connecting Barangay Cagdianao in Claver town and Barangay Doña Helen. That prolonged outage prompted emergency measures and calls for a state of calamity as businesses across the island were affected.

“These incidents of power interruption have exposed the weaknesses in Siargao’s power system,” ILAW Pilipinas National Convenor Beng Garcia said. “Every blackout costs a hefty price for Siargao’s local economy. The island needs real, long-term energy security.”

ILAW warned that recurring power failures undermine Siargao’s tourism-driven economy, noting that the island recorded 112,510 tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2025 alone. The group said prolonged outages force resorts, restaurants, and transport operators to rely on generators, driving up costs and eroding revenues.

Small businesses and micro enterprises were particularly affected, with reported losses in 2024 ranging from PHP 15,000 to PHP 100,000 for each day without electricity, ILAW said. “The cost of doing business in Siargao can become untenable,” Garcia warned adding that smaller establishments without power backup may be forced to temporarily shut down.

Beyond economic losses, ILAW said power instability has also disrupted education on the island, with schools suspending classes during outages. “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.

ILAW urged government agencies to treat Siargao’s power situation as a matter of national economic interest and reiterated the need to scale and diversify power sources on the island to improve resilience and prevent further disruptions.

How can energy planning for island grids like Siargao’s be strengthened to prevent repeated blackouts and protect local livelihoods?

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