Naval: The ongoing electrification project on Higatangan Island in Naval, Biliran province, through a submarine cable connection, is expected to drive economic growth and improve the lives of residents.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Higatangan Island Submarine Cable Project, being implemented by the Biliran Electric Cooperative (BILECO), will provide round-the-clock electricity to the island’s 2,000 residents once completed this October. Funded by the Department of Energy and the National Electrification Administration, the PHP117.7 million project involves laying a 4-km. submarine cable that will link Jubay village in Calubian, Leyte to Mabini village in Higatangan.
Espina said the project is a welcome development, especially because the island has been declared a special tourism area under Republic Act 10409, also known as the Tourism Development Area Act. ‘Tourism-wise and economically, this will greatly help our people in Higatangan. They will no longer face difficulties when starting a business or even meeting their household needs,’ she said in an interview on Tuesday.
Currently, residents access eight hours of electricity daily through a diesel-powered generator that runs from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. This limited power supply has long hampered the island’s development and discouraged investors from putting up businesses, according to the mayor. ‘This is a big factor, since how can you build a business if electricity is limited? Investors would have to buy costly generators. With a stable power supply, Higatangan will finally move forward,’ Espina added.
Known for its 200-meter shifting sandbar, which changes direction with the seasons, Higatangan has become a rising tourism destination. The island hosts the Higatangan Island Summer Festival, drawing both local and domestic tourists. It is also home to the Capilla del Mar, an underwater chapel featuring a 12-foot cross and eight benches representing Biliran’s eight towns, several beach resorts, and a cliff diving site.
In 2024, Higatangan was the second tourist destination, next to the island town of Maripipi, also in Biliran, to be added to the growing list of cruise tourism destinations in Eastern Visayas. The completion of the power project will be crucial in supporting its tourism-driven economy.
