The Surigao del Norte provincial board passed a resolution on Monday, declaring Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands under ‘state of calamity’ due to widespread power outage that affected many households and businesses since December 1.
Surigao del Norte made the announcement following the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).
“This decision comes in response to the ongoing blackout caused by a line ground fault in the submarine cable connecting Siargao Island to the Mindanao power grid, now on its 8th consecutive day,” the provincial government said in a statement.
With the declaration, local government units (LGUs) in the affected islands are authorized to expedite the release of emergency funds and ensure the swift delivery of critical support, which includes access to potable water supply for the impacted communities.
“It also empowers local authorities to implement necessary measures to address the economic and social challenges brought about by the prolonged power outage,” Surigao del Norte added in its statement.
The problem was initially attributed to a line fault in the undersea cables of power service provider Siargao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SIARELCO) that disrupted electricity supply in the villages of Cagdianao and Doña Helen in the municipalities of Claver and Socorro.
SIARELCO tried to address the issue by tracing the suspected fault with the help of technical experts. They later reported that “no signs of a line fault at the kink suspected portion of the submarine cable” were found.
The power distribution utility appealed for patience from all its stakeholders as restoration efforts continue. SIARELCO has sought for and continues to receive portable generator sets from nearby electric cooperatives as alternative source of power for its affected customers.
