Businesses stalled, classrooms emptied, and homes fell silent when a sudden blackout swept across Central Mindanao at noon Tuesday. What started as an unscheduled power interruption quickly turned into a 25-hour outage that affected nearly three million residents. From Cotabato City to far-flung towns in Maguindanao and Cotabato province, communities were left waiting in the dark. Here’s how a single transmission line issue triggered one of the region’s widest power disruptions in recent months.
Transmission Line Trouble in Pikit
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines traced the outage to a cut conductor on one of its pylons along the Kibawe–Sultan Kudarat 138kV line in Barangay Dalingaoen, Pikit, Cotabato. High-tension lines above three adjoining pylons were affected, disrupting supply across multiple distribution utilities. Power was first cut at 12:16 p.m. Tuesday, impacting the coverage areas of Cotabato Light and Power Company, Maguindanao Electric Cooperative, and Cotabato Electric Cooperative.
NGCP personnel completed initial repair works at around 9 p.m., but additional technical issues delayed restoration. Schedules were repeatedly moved from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m., and later to noon Wednesday. Full restoration finally came at about 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Nearly 3 Million Affected
The outage covered Cotabato City, parts of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, and several towns in Cotabato province. Also affected were eight towns in the Special Geographic Area of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Based on the latest census, about 2.9 million residents experienced the blackout.
In Cotabato City alone, all 37 barangays were without electricity for more than a day. Local government units reported disruptions in government services, water supply systems, and commercial operations.
Classes Canceled, Businesses Hit
Cotabato City Mayor Bruce Matabalao ordered the automatic cancellation of classes in all levels when electricity was not restored by 9 a.m. Wednesday as earlier projected. Both public and private schools were affected. The suspension added to mounting frustration among residents still recovering from a 10-hour scheduled outage days earlier for NGCP maintenance works.
Local entrepreneurs also counted losses. Food businesses scrambled to preserve perishable goods, while retail shops and small enterprises struggled without power. Many questioned how a single line problem could lead to such prolonged darkness.
No Sabotage, Officials Say
Local executives in Pikit dismissed speculation that armed groups damaged the NGCP facilities. Regional officials clarified that the cause was structural conductor damage, not sabotage. Authorities emphasized the need for accurate information as investigations continue.
Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza said she would request a comprehensive report from NGCP detailing the exact cause of the transmission failure. She also encouraged local officials to conduct their own inquiry to better understand the incident.
Power Restored, Questions Remain
By Wednesday afternoon, electricity supply was gradually restored across the affected areas. Technical teams worked nearly 22 hours to repair the damaged facilities in Barangay Dalingaoen. While lights are back on, concerns about grid reliability remain.
For many in Central Mindanao, the blackout was more than an inconvenience. It was a reminder of how fragile essential services can be when a key transmission line fails.
