Electricity has been restored to Boracay Island and nearby towns after a temporary halt to restoration work due to high tide, officials said Monday.
The power was restored at 2:55 p.m. following an overnight pause that was necessary to ensure the safety of crews, said Energy Secretary Sharon Garin.
“Safety guided every call we made, including last night’s brief pause during high tide,” Garin said in a statement.
“Power is restored, and our teams remain on site to stabilise the system and complete permanent repairs,” she said.
The island and the municipalities of Malay and Buruanga were cut off from the grid on Saturday after the Nabas–Unidos 69kV line tripped, isolating the Unidos–Caticlan–Malay and Unidos–Boracay lines.
Crews from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and the Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco) located the fault in the form of damaged underground cables near the Caticlan Airport arrival area that were compromised by moisture and leakage.
The Department of Energy (DOE) said that while high tide briefly halted activities Sunday night, restoration teams resumed operations on Monday morning. Permanent repairs to the underground cables are underway.
The NGCP said it continues to advance the Nabas–Caticlan–Boracay Transmission Line Project, which the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has ordered to be completed this year.
The DOE said the project, along with other planned transmission upgrades, would strengthen Boracay’s power infrastructure and ensure a reliable electricity supply for residents, businesses and the tourism industry.
“We are grateful for the patience and cooperation of the public during this difficult period,” Garin said.
“Rest assured that our teams are giving their all to complete the restoration and to put in place long-term solutions for stable and secure power in Boracay,” she said.
