Davao Light to build submarine cable linking Davao City and Samal

DAVAO LIGHT and Power Co., the distribution utility unit of Aboitiz Power Corp. (AboitizPower), is set to construct a submarine cable that will allow the export of electricity from Davao City to the Island Garden City of Samal.

Spanning 1,015 meters across the Pakiputan Strait, the subsea cable will enable the island to connect to the mainland grid, which has faced power supply issues, AboitizPower said in a statement on Thursday.

The 69-kilovolt project is scheduled for completion by the middle of this year to support growing electricity demand in Samal.

The project has secured a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Energy Regulatory Commission, allowing the submarine cable to be laid to connect Samal to the mainland grid.

As of 2024, the Island Garden City of Samal has a population of 119,701, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Citing a former local executive, AboitizPower said the island incurred annual damages of about P120 million to P150 million for more than a decade due to unresolved power issues stemming from aging infrastructure and network maintenance concerns.

“Davao Light is ready, poised, and equipped to serve the people, communities, and businesses of the Island Garden City of Samal,” said Davao Light President and Chief Operating Officer Enriczar Tia.

“Our immediate priorities will be customer service support, network expansion, and substation upgrades that will help build a robust electric distribution system,” he added.

Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib said the initiative serves as “a turning point” for the province and signals more reliable power service moving forward.

Davao Light is the country’s third-largest electric distribution utility, serving the cities of Davao and Panabo as well as the municipalities of Carmen, Dujali, and Santo Tomas in Davao del Norte.

The company expanded its services to several areas in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro, including Samal, following the enactment of Republic Act No. 12144. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera