The Department of Energy (DOE) said it is closely monitoring the power situation in Caticlan, Boracay Island and nearby areas after an unscheduled power interruption began Saturday. The outage was caused by a transmission line trip, the department said.
The DOE initially traced the outage to the Nabas-Unidos 69kV line tripping, which isolated the Unidos–Caticlan–Malay and Unidos–Boracay 69kV lines.
The DOE said the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and the Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco) immediately dispatched crews to identify the cause and assist with restoration efforts.
It said that on Saturday evening, Akelco discovered arcing in the 69kV sub-transmission power cables at the Caticlan Airport arrival area.
Subsequent tests revealed moisture intrusion and leakage in the underground cables, which isolated Boracay Island and the municipalities of Malay and Buruanga from the grid at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 13.
NGCP and Akelco mobilized eight full teams to speed up restoration, with additional personnel deployed on Sept. 18.
With clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), crews are constructing a temporary 69kV bypass overhead line.
The interim solution, which spans about 800 meters along the beachside perimeter of the Caticlan Airport’s runway, aims to restore electricity to Boracay before midnight while comprehensive repairs on the underground cable continue.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is assisting in securing the site to ensure public safety.
The DOE assured the public that both NGCP and Akelco are fully committed to restoring electricity as soon as possible, especially to Boracay, a premier tourist destination and economic hub.
“Our foremost priority is to restore reliable electricity supply without delay,” Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and working hand-in-hand with NGCP, Akelco, CAAP, local governments, and partner agencies to normalize power supply in Boracay and neighboring towns,” she said.
Garin said “continuing efforts are underway, particularly in assisting Akelco in the immediate repair of its 69kV underground cable, in coordination with the National Electrification Administration, and ensuring that the NGCP shall immediately complete the Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay Transmission Line Project.”
The NGCP was directed by the Energy Regulatory Commission on Nov. 19, 2024, to complete the project this year to ensure stable and reliable power for the island.
The current power requirement for Caticlan and Boracay is supplied by Nabas Substation via a 69kV overhead transmission line and submarine cable.
The DOE said these facilities need to be upgraded to handle the island’s future power demand.
