Photo courtesy from Konsehal Allan Turtur

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Surigao del Norte is proving once again that teamwork makes the dream work—well, at least when it comes to solving big problems. After another productive overtime session, the council officially declared Siargao Island under a State of Calamity following a week-long power outage that has left residents and businesses in the dark.

How Did This All Happen?

It all began on December 1, 2024, when a line ground break in the submarine cable connecting Siargao to the Mindanao Power Grid cut off electricity to the entire island. With Siargao's residents struggling and businesses taking a hit, Governor Robert Lyndon S. Barbers, in his role as Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Chairperson, wasted no time. He called an emergency meeting to get everyone on the same page and figure out how to fix the crisis—fast.

Power Restoration Updates: There’s Hope on the Horizon

SIARELCO General Manager and APEC Representative Cong. Sergio Dagooc shared some much-needed good news during the meeting.

Contractors have already secured the required parts to fix the damaged submarine cable. If all goes well—weather permitting—power restoration could begin as early as Sunday, December 8, 2024.

In the meantime, free generator sets (gensets) are arriving on the island. A 4MW genset will start supplying rotational six-hour power to four municipalities at a time. Additional gensets will also be sent to every town to ensure no community is left behind.

Quick Action: Emergency Support for Siargao Residents

The PDRRMC and other agencies rolled out immediate interventions to help residents cope with the outage:

Water Supply: The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is providing water for household use, though they reminded residents it’s not potable. Municipalities can request water rationing directly from their fire stations.

Fuel Assistance: The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) pledged free fuel for municipalities that submit formal requests.

Price Monitoring: While a full price freeze requires a State of Emergency, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is keeping a close eye on prices to prevent unfair hikes.

Looking Ahead: Long-Term Energy Solutions

This power crisis is a wake-up call for Siargao and the rest of Surigao del Norte. To prevent something like this from happening again, the PDRRMC recommended creating a Surigao del Norte Energy Development Advisory Group. This team, led by representatives from LGUs, national agencies, private sectors, and more, will focus on strengthening and expanding the province’s power infrastructure.

Collaboration is Key

The meeting brought together heavyweights like Vice Governor Eddie "Geed" Gokiangkee Jr., OCD Caraga’s Lorene Catedral, SIARELCO leadership, and department heads of the provincial government, alongside representatives from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and local media. Everyone agreed: cooperation among all sectors is the only way forward.

Governor Barbers wrapped it up best, saying the priority now is to restore electricity quickly while keeping residents informed and supported. “We’re not stopping until this is fixed,” he assured.

For the people of Siargao, the light—quite literally—appears to be at the end of the tunnel.