House Speaker Martin Romualdez sent 30 generator sets and 300 solar panels to Siargao Island on Monday to aid residents affected by power outages since Dec. 1, caused by a suspected fault in the submarine cable supplying electricity from mainland Mindanao.

The equipment arrived on Monday at Sayak Airport in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte aboard a Philippine Air Force C-130 plane and was received by the office of First District Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas II.

“We sent a generator set to the town of San Benito as they need electricity for the ongoing Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) payout,” Matugas said in a statement, adding that the generator set was turned over to Mayor Gina Menil.

He added that his office is facilitating the delivery of other generator sets and solar panels to other municipalities.

“With these facilities, the local government units on the island can provide more free charging stations in their localities. We are thankful to Speaker Romualdez for the support,” Matugas said.

The Office of Civil Defense in the Caraga Region earlier sent two 8.5 kilovolt-amperes (kVA) generators to Sta. Monica District Hospital and Pilar District Hospital, along with a 3.5 kVA generator for a water refilling station in Pilar town.

Meanwhile, the Siargao Electric Cooperative (Siarelco) reported on Monday that divers and experts are continuing efforts to locate and repair the submarine cable fault.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial council) of Surigao del Norte has not yet declared a state of calamity after a special session to formalize the declaration on Friday was canceled due to lack of quorum. (PNA)