The Davao Light and Power Company (Davao Light) has started installing submarine cables that will connect the power grid of Samal Island to Davao City to ensure a more stable power supply on the island.

The submarine cable, measuring about 1,015 meters, was installed across the Pakiputan Strait and can supply electricity to the island in Davao del Norte at up to five times the needed 15-megawatt capacity.

Davao Light said this is just the beginning of the Davao-Samal Power Interconnection Project, which aims to link the island’s power supply directly to the Davao City grid.

The power company added that the submarine cable will help ensure that power supply in Samal will not be compromised in case the island’s lone power generation company encounters problems with its plant.

“Ang Samal isa lang ang power supplier which is the Phil Ventures Corporation kung magka-problema ang ilahang planta so wala tay laing suplay nga kakuhaan mao na ang solusyon nga ikonekta nato sa mainland ang Samal pamaagi sa submarine cable,” Davao Light Spokesperson, Fermin Edillon, said.

The submarine cable is expected to be energized by the last week of April 2026.

It can be recalled that Davao Light has already taken over the power distribution operation on Samal Island, a move that was opposed by Northern Davao Electric Cooperative due to legal concerns.

Davao Light maintained that it is now the sole power distributor on the island under Republic Act 12144, which allows the expansion of its franchise area.

Davao Light noted that one of the major causes of power outages in Samal has been tree branches and vegetation coming into contact with power lines.

“Dili siya overnight mahitabo nga pag mo-takeover mi wala nay masinati nga outages, ang linya man gud sa kuryente kinahanglan nato i-upgrade. What we are doing right now naa tay mga preventive measure para kung mohangin man dili mo-touch sa linya sa kuryente,” Edillon said.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Davao del Norte and the local government of Samal forged an agreement on Thursday, March 12, 2026, aimed at boosting tourism development on the island.

Governo Edwin Jubahib said the agreement seeks to promote tourism in Samal further, an island known for many tourist destinations.

Several tourism infrastructure projects were turned over during the event, including the Sanipaan Marine Park, Samal Island Nature Park in Bandera, Aundanao Dive Site, and Kaputian Beach Park.