THE local government of the Island Garden City of Samal has announced plans to build its own submarine cable facility that would link the city to Davao Light and Power Co. and ensure consistent power supply and services.

This comes after the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco) failed to comply with its promise to finish a 15-kilometer submarine cable costing P1.5 billion that would connect Samal and Pantukan, Davao de Oro.

Samal City Mayor Al David Uy, meanwhile, assured that the project will not violate the franchise of Nordeco as the island would be serving as the "power producer" and sell energy back to the cooperative.

The P300-million project will also resolve long-running power supply issues that have hounded the city.

In a statement, both the local government of Igacos and consumers have raised frustration over Nordeco's failure to finish the submarine cable by June 30, 2024.

Uy added that the Island has been losing hundreds of millions in pesos of lost revenue per year due to rotational power outages.

The Davao Consumer Movement has appealed to Congress leaders to put pressure on Nordeco to improve its services or pass measures that would develop power services in the island.