Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), through its distribution utility Davao Light and Power Company (Davao Light), completed a historic first for the company via a submarine cable laying in the Pakiputan Strait, connecting the Island Garden City of Samal to Davao City. This is an initial step to the resort island’s long-awaited integration into the mainland’s power grid after years of service woes.
A cable-laying vessel, guided by support boats and a team of technical experts and divers, brought the submarine cable across one of the strait’s narrowest points between Davao City and Samal, with the route intentionally mapped to minimize environmental impact along the cable’s path. The 1,015 meters of state-of-the-art submarine cable was produced in China, custom-built to meet the project’s specifications.
Succeeding phases will see divers securing the submarine cables underwater and the construction of cable terminal stations at both shore ends. The 69-kilovolt project is expected to be completed by mid-2026, bringing much-needed power network stability and supporting the growing load requirements in Samal.
“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 COO Enriczar Tia. “Our immediate priorities will be customer service support, network expansion, and substation upgrades that will help build a robust electric distribution system.”
According to AboitizPower SVP & COO of the Distribution Business Group Anton Perdices, Davao Light will strive to operate using best practices and world-class standards that will help encourage growth and development and improve quality of life. “By doing so, AboitizPower and Davao Light will be able to support local progress and national goals.”
For years, Samal has faced power distribution issues due to aging infrastructure and network maintenance concerns. The frequent outages on the island have strained households, disrupted businesses, and weakened Samal’s potential as a tourism hub. A former local executive said that the city incurred annual damages of about P120 to P150 million since the 2010s due to inconsistencies and unresolved power issues.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) granted the Provisional Authority for Davao Light’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), which formally cleared the way for the submarine cable laying connecting Samal to the mainland grid.
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib welcomed the approval, describing it as a turning point for the province and a signal of more reliable power service ahead. “This may be one document but this spells a brighter future and a better life to the people of Davao del Norte,” the governor said in an official statement.
“With the expected stability in the power network, we look to attract investors and generate more jobs for our people here in Samal,” added Samal Mayor Lemuel Reyes. “We thank Davao Light and AboitizPower for kicking off this project; one that would improve the lives of the people in our island.”
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Island Garden City of Samal has a population of 119,701 as of the 2024 census.
Davao Light is the third largest privately-owned distribution utility in the Philippines, serving the cities of Davao and Panabo, plus the municipalities of Carmen, Dujali, and Sto. Tomas.
Republic Act No. 12144, which took effect last April 2025, expanded Davao Light’s franchise area to several areas in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro, including Samal. Its legality was affirmed by the Supreme Court in January 2026.
A Writ of Possession was also issued by the Regional Trial Court – Panabo Branch 4, authorizing Davao Light to take over all electric distribution assets in Samal.