President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. visited Siquijor on June 11 to check the diesel power plant in Candanay Sur, as the island suffered from frequent power outages. He promised that the government would act quickly and fix the problem within six months. Marcos said the blackouts are hurting residents, local businesses, and the island’s growing tourism industry.
“People only get electricity for two to five hours a day. This can’t continue,” he emphasized. “The people of Siquijor are the victims here, and we need to fix this immediately.”
(Also read: Visayas and Mindanao Are Growing Fast—Is the Power Supply Ready?)
Spotlight on SIPCOR
Marcos spoke with engineers from the Siquijor Island Power Corp. (SIPCOR), the company running the diesel power plant, and met with local officials to discuss how to fix the power problem on the island.
Though SIPCOR operations chief Roger Gambuta pledged to follow Marcos’ directive and improve services, the government is now reviewing growing calls from residents to replace the firm as Siquijor’s power provider. “Everything is on the table,” said the President. “We just have to examine what is the best solution. We have some very good ideas.”
According to the Department of Energy (DoE), Siquijor’s rolling blackouts were traced back to its sole generator, SIPCOR, whose main units are out of service. With those engines down, the island is starved of power.
Meanwhile, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) stated that Siquijor needs about 6.8 megawatts (MW) day‑to‑day and up to 9 MW at peak. SIPCOR is producing barely 4.5 MW, forcing officials to ration electricity in shifts across the province.
Marcos raised alarm over the continued blackouts in Siquijor, saying the outages are hurting businesses and putting the island’s tourism growth at risk.
He noted that Siquijor is quickly becoming a popular destination, but “they are losing that opportunity to develop because of power woes.”
However, Gambuta stressed that efforts are underway to ease the supply gap, including repairs on broken generator units and renting extra power sets to boost output. He admitted there have been shortfalls due to ongoing maintenance but said steps are being taken to fix the problem.
(Also read: Stunning Shores, Unstable Power: A Tale of Two Realities)
Short-term solution
To ease the crisis quickly, two modular generator sets from Palawan were shipped to Siquijor. The units provided immediate relief as the government and SIPCOR worked on a longer-term fix.
The Presidential Communications Office said Marcos ordered NEA to restore stable power in Siquijor by June 15. By June 14, NEA had met the target, fast-tracking SIPCOR’s generator repairs in coordination with the power provider the Province of Siquijor Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Prosielco).
“Within six months, we will have a permanent fix in place so that we don’t have to rely on emergency generators again,” the President stated.
Marcos said the government is also looking into problems with fuel delivery, damaged power lines, and faulty equipment. He added that NEA has set a roadmap to solve the crisis, with thorough planning already in motion.
Sources:
https://pia.gov.ph/pbbm-inspects-siquijor-power-facility-as-energy-crisis-disrupts-lives-tourism
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2069853/marcos-gives-firm-6-months-to-end-siquijor-power-crisis
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2025/06/16/2450777/palace-stable-power-supply-restored-siquijor