DAVAO CITY — Electricity has been restored to most areas affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Sarangani and nearby provinces on June 8, 2026. The Department of Energy reported that nearly all areas that lost power after the powerful tremor have regained supply. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said approximately 864,000 households across Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, the Davao Region, and surrounding areas were affected by the outage.
Initial assessments identified damage to four power plants, two transmission lines, four private power utilities, and eight electric cooperatives. The earthquake's impact on energy infrastructure was widespread, disrupting service across multiple provinces. However, rapid repair efforts have yielded significant progress in the hours following the disaster.
Swift Restoration Underway
Two of the four affected power plants have been repaired and brought back online. Transmission services have also been partially restored, enabling power to flow again through critical lines. The restoration of generation capacity and transmission infrastructure forms the backbone of the recovery effort.
Four private distribution utilities and seven electric cooperatives have also resumed service to their customers. These utilities worked through the night to assess damage, repair lines, and restore connections to households and businesses. Their efforts have brought relief to hundreds of thousands of families who were plunged into darkness after the quake.
South Cotabato II Remains in Darkness
Despite the widespread progress, the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative Inc. continues to experience a total blackout. Areas under its service coverage remain without electricity as repair crews work to address the damage. The cooperative serves a substantial portion of South Cotabato province.
Energy officials have prioritized the restoration of service to the affected cooperative's coverage area. Additional engineering teams and equipment are being mobilized to accelerate the repair timeline. The DOE has assured the public that restoring power to all affected areas remains its top priority.
A Region's Resilience Shines Through
The rapid restoration of electricity demonstrates the preparedness and resilience of Mindanao's energy sector. Emergency protocols activated immediately after the earthquake allowed for swift damage assessment and coordinated repair operations. The collaboration among power plant operators, transmission providers, and distribution utilities proved essential.
Energy Secretary Garin commended the energy sector's response and assured continued government support for the recovery. The Department of Energy continues to monitor the situation closely. As the remaining power lines are repaired and the South Cotabato II cooperative restores service, the affected communities can expect full power restoration in the coming days.
