Davao Light reconnects Samal submarine cable

Nine months after being isolated or 2 days before Christmas eve, the Samal submarine cable is reconnected to one of Davao Light & Power Co.'s substation.

 

This is upon the request of Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) Mayor Al David Uy to provide stable electricity to the Island City. The gensets currently supplying electricity is not sufficient to energize the entire Samal island, according to the Mayor.

 

Davao Light agreed to reconnect the submarine cable as there now exists an unused capacity in its Pampanga substation. Also in the spirit of Christmas, people of Samal could enjoy the holidays with uninterrupted power.

The Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (DANECO) submarine cable connects to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) transmission system passing through Davao Light's Pampanga substation.

 

Months earlier DANECO made the same request to Davao Light. However, at that time it could not be accommodated as the latter utility's Pampanga substation was already at maximum load due to the rapid growth in the serviced areas.

 

Last March 17, the entire Samal island experienced total power outage after the said submarine cable was hit by cargo vessel M/V Ecuador. Later, modular gensets provided power to the island.