₱5-billion project to end Boracay power shortages nears completion
The Department of Energy (DOE) is accelerating the completion of the ₱5.27 billion transmission project designed to shore up power reliability for the tourism hub of Boracay and the province of Aklan.
As the government moves to insulate the region’s grid from environmental vulnerabilities and surging demand, the DOE reported that the Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay Transmission Line Project is now 93.16 percent complete.
Energy officials, alongside representatives from the Energy Regulatory Commission, National Transmission Corp., and the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines conducted a site inspection on Thursday, April 16.
Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said that the department is prioritizing the project’s timeline because reliable power serves as the fundamental catalyst for regional economic growth.
The ₱5.27 billion project is designed to solve long-standing instability caused by technical bottlenecks and the harsh coastal environment. Existing overhead lines in the region are frequently compromised by salt spray and wave activity, which degrade equipment and trigger outages.
By transitioning to underground and gas-insulated systems, the grid will be better equipped to handle the requirements of approximately 155,474 residential consumers and more than 13,000 commercial and industrial entities.
Several segments of the upgrade are already providing relief to the local grid. The Nabas Substation has been operational since December 2023, and a rehabilitated transmission line between Unidos and Caticlan was energized in early February 2026.
To mitigate immediate risks, engineers adjusted a 69-kilovolt bypass line in late 2025 to prevent tripping incidents that were previously occurring during high tides.
Work is nearing the finish line for the Nabas-Unidos 230-kilovolt line and the Manoc-Manoc-Boracay Tie Line, both of which are more than 99 percent complete. However, more complex components require additional time.
The Boracay GIS Substation is currently at 80.25 percent completion, while the 138-kilovolt underground cable connecting Unidos and Caticlan stands at 68.54 percent.
The DOE expects the entire system to be fully operational by June 2026. (Gabriell Christel Galang)