POWER outages in Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) must be “addressed seriously” as it stunts tourism potential of the city, a member of the Regional Development Council - Davao Region (RDC-Davao) said.
“That (power outages) has to be addressed seriously now if we really want, kasi ang laki ng potential for tourism ng Samal (Samal’s tourism has a lot of potential) and no doubt about it,” Arturo Milan, RDC-Davao chairperson, said during the Davao Regional Development Plan press conference in Mapua Malayan Colleges, May 23.
“But that can only grow if there will be adequate, reliable, and affordable power in Samal,” Milan added.
The official said this has been an ongoing and recurring problem on the island for years, but it seems “nothing has been done” to address the power outage problem.
Milan explained that Igacos receives its electricity through a single-phased connection.
In this type of connection, if anything happens to the network, the power supply will be interrupted.
“Samal, being an island, it’s being connected to the main grid via submarine cable, yung submarine cable na iyan ilang beses na iyan naputol because nada-drag ng mga barko while dumadaan (vessels have damaged the submarine cable many times) in between Davao mainland and the [Igacos] island,” Milan said.
“The sad part of it is may kuryente sila, but wala silang (they have electricity, but they do not have) three-phased connection,” he added.
He said three-phased connections could benefit most commercial and industrial facilities enterprises in Igacos.
However, Milan is hopeful that the upcoming Senate hearing schedule today, May 24, on Nordeco should address the power outages in Igacos.
Senator Raffy Tulfo calls for an investigation of Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco) regarding the power outages in Igacos.
During the May 21 Senate hearing, Tulfo said one must be held accountable in this power crisis, and immediate solutions must be given to the island, which is currently in a state of calamity since May 17.
Reportedly, Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib blamed power utility distributor Nordeco for the persistent power crisis in the island.
Igacos has been in a state of calamity until 2024 through a Resolution No. 734 filed by the City Council which urges the national government to employ measures to mitigate the power crisis and ensure island residents’ welfare with the rotating brownouts there. (ICE)