MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) said on Sunday that it is closely monitoring the power situation in Caticlan, Boracay Island and nearby areas following the unscheduled power interruption that began on Saturday, September 13.
The agency said the power outage was initially traced to the tripping of the Nabas-Unidos 69 kilovolt (kV) line, which in turn led to the isolation of the Unidos–Caticlan–Malay and Unidos–Boracay 69kV lines.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco) immediately dispatched line patrols and augmentation teams to identify the root cause and assist in restoration efforts.
Akelco discovered an arcing of 69kV sub transmission of power cables at the arrival area of Caticlan Airport.
The DOE said that subsequent tests revealed moisture intrusion and leakage of the underground cables, leaving Boracay Island and the municipalities of Malay and Buruanga isolated from the grid since 2:30 p.m. on September 13.
The agency assured the public that the NGCP and Akelco are fully committed to restoring electricity at the soonest possible time, especially in Boracay Island, which is a premier tourism destination and vital economic hub.
With clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), a temporary 69kV bypass overhead line was constructed.
“Our foremost priority is to restore reliable electricity supply without delay. We are closely monitoring the situation and working hand-in-hand with NGCP, Akelco, CAAP, local governments, and partner agencies to normalize power supply in Boracay and neighboring towns,” Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said.
