DAVAO CITY –— The power woes of the residents in the Island Garden City of Samal will end in June, says Mayor Al David Uy on Friday as the submarine cable will link the Pantukan power grid to his city..
Uy said top officials of National Electrification Administration (NEA) has assured him that the submarine cable from Pantukan, Davao de Oro will be connected to his city through the North Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco) power house in Barangay Audanao in Samal Island.
“The officials of NEA has assured me that the submarine cable traversing the power line from Pantukan to Samal will be fixed and we expect that by June we will enjoy a 24/7 power supply here,” Uy told Newsline.
As it is now, the island  requires 9 megawatts daily, 6.12 mw of which are sourced from the Mindoro Grid Corporation while 3 mw come from Nordeco .
NORDECO, an electric distribution utility, serves 18,000 households and commercial establishments.
In terms of power cost “It will be cheaper because they will use fuel from the Pantukan grid, as it is now, the power price is P4 higher,” Uy explained.
In 2023, the power cooperative said the submarine cable project will be done and become available in 2024.
The 14.7-kilometer submarine cable project cost PHP1.1 billion.
According to Mayor Uy, the electricity problem in Samal will be solved and the businessmen will be encouraged to enter the island. Proper electricity supply is one of the requirements of investors when they pour capital.
Blackouts had plagued Samal after the submarine cable of Nordeco was damaged by the anchor of M/V Ecuador from Seaview Cargo Shipping Corporation.
