In his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. mentioned that the power crisis in the Province of Siquijor should come to an end, and should not happen anywhere else in the country. 

“Hindi ko palalampasin ang nangyari kamakailan sa Siqujor. Dahil sa malawakang brownout, napilitan pang magdeklara ng state of calamity sa lalawigan. Pinerwisyo dito ang mga taga-roon, ang kanilang turismo, mga negosyo, ospital, at sari-saring serbisyo. Sa ginawa nating imbestigasyon, ano ang ating natuklasan? Mga expired na permits. Mga sirang generators, na halatang napabayaan, kaya sunod-sunod na bumibigay. Mabagal na aksyon, at kawalan ng maayos na sistema sa pagbili ng krudo at mga piyesa,” the President said in his SONA on Monday, July 28, 2025.

He emphasized that he has directed the Department of Energy (DOE), National Electrification Administration (NEA), and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the urgent resumption of normalcy in power supply in the island-province before 2025 ends. 

“Ipinag-utos natin sa DOE, NEA, at ERC na pabalikin sa normal ang serbisyo ng kuryente sa Siquijor bago matapos ang taon. Titiyakin namin na maitatag agad ang mga pasilidad para sa pangmatagalang lunas sa kanilang problema sa kuryente. Hindi na dapat tong maulit muli,” the President said in resolving Siquijor power crisis, and securing supply for families and businesses. 

To recall, the Provincial Government of Siquijor through its Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) declared a state of calamity in June 2025 due to worsening power crisis.

“In response to the ongoing island-wide power crisis, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Siquijor unanimously approved Resolution entitled "A Resolution Declaring a State of Calamity in the Province of Siquijor Due to the Power Crisis and its Adverse Impact on the Community, Public Services, and Local Economy," the resolution read.

The declaration is based on the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) during its 2nd Quarter Meeting presided by Governor Jake Vincent Villa  on May 29, 2025, following "widespread and prolonged power outages attributed to the breakdown of several power generation units operated by the Siquijor Island Power Corporation (SIPCOR)."

In response, the President has given the Provincial Government of Siquijor six months to solve the power crisis after his visit on June 11, 2025.

Marcos visited one of the power plants of SIPCOR in Barangay Candanay Sur in Siquijor town. The visit came six days after the declaration of a state of calamity.

At the power plant, Marcos checked the Engine Diesel Unit, Control Room, and transmission line, among others. With him were officers of NEA, DOE, Province of Siquijor Electric Cooperative (PROSIELCO), and officials of the local government.

Engr. Jonas Tampos, SIPCOR Plant head, said it was after the May midterm elections that the province started experiencing four-hour outages. This worsened by May 23, 2025 when outages would reach up to eight hours.

The power outages have affected households and businesses, and were felt especially by those employed in online jobs.

It was found that four of the six generators at SIPCOR Plant bogged down. This happened while another generator in its plant in Barangay Tignao (pronounced tig-na-wô) in Lazi town is under maintenance.

Tampos said maintenance work for each generator can reach up to 10 days.

NEA Administrator Antonio Almeda said initial assessment showed the outages are caused by a maintenance issue.

NEA, PROSIELCO, and SIPCOR vowed working together to address the problem.

SAN JUANICO BRIDGE

In May 2025, the Office of Civil Defense said that the cost of emergency repair of San Juanico Bridge in Eastern Visayas could reach P500 million, according to a GMA News Online report. 

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in an initial  assessment, raised concerns about San Juanico Bridge's structural integrity.

As part of precautions, DPWH temporarily prohibits vehicles weighing more than three tons from crossing the 2.16-kilometer bridge.

“Ang San Juanico Bridge naman, limampung taon na, nakatayo pa rin hanggang ngayon. Gano’n siya katibay. Ngunit nakaligtaan naman ang wastong pagmentina at pagkumpuni sa pagdaan ng mga dekada. Nalagay pa tuloy sa panganib ang publiko. Hindi dapat ganito. Sa Build Better More, higit ang kapakanan at kaligtasan ng mamamayan,” Marcos mentioned in his SONA the ongoing rehabilitation of the 52-year-old bridge, connecting the Provinces of Samar and Leyte, built during his father’s administration, to emphasize his priority programs in infrastructure development and maintenance.

RESPONSE TO NEW NORMAL IMPACT OF ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS

Moreover, the President emphasized the need to further respond via strengthened mitigation measures when dealing with the impact of climate change, the new normal amount of rainfall, weather disturbances, among other challenges in disaster preparedness.

“Masigasig din ang ating paghahanda at pagmamatyag laban sa banta ng sakuna at kalamidad, lalo na bagong normal ng nagbagong klima at bugso ng panahon. Ngayong Hulyo lang, apat na bagyo na ang dumaan. Sabi ng PAGASA, mga 12 pa ang nagbabantang papasok sa bansa hanggang Disyembre. Sa 24 nating aktibong bulkan sa bansa, apat ang kasalukuyang nag-a-alburuto, lalo na ang Kanlaon sa Negros Island. Hindi tayo dapat tumigil sa ating mga ginagawang paghahanda, dahil ang banta ay patuloy na naririyan. Dapat ay maging likas at “automatic na” ang mga wastong gawi sa tuwing may sakuna,” the President underscored.