DIPOLOG CITY - As an extension of their service to
the country, members of the 2nd
Mechanized Infantry
Brigade (MIB) of the Philippine Army (PA) in Iligan City rendered their
assistance to solve Right-of-Way (ROW) issues concerning the National Grid
Corporation of the Philippines’ (NGCP) transmission lines in Balo-i, Lanao del
Norte.
The military unit, through the directive of the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10, coordinated with more than 20 owners
of the land traversed by the Agus 2 – Kibawe 138 kilovolt (kV) line of NGCP.
Through this effort, the military aimed to convince the owners to allow NGCP to
trim the trees that are breaching or about to breach the ROW clearances set by
the system operator.
As reinforcement, the 2nd MIB
also conducted information dissemination among the members of the Municipal
Peace and Order Council (MPOC) of Balo-i on the ROW problems and how these adversely
affect the service delivery of NGCP.
Earlier this year, NGCP found it difficult in maintaining the
said transmission line due to the intentional planting of trees under the
facilities which caused 20 outages in Lanao as of May.
“NGCP is thankful that the DILG and the military are helping
curb ROW violations in Lanao Del Norte. We hope that this would be the start of
a smoother operation and better community relations for us in the area,” NGCP
Spokesperson Atty. Cynthia P. Alabanza said.
The Balo-i Substation and lines connected to it, including
the Agus 2 – Kibawe 138 kV line, are crucial to the Mindanao grid because they
carry the bulk of electricity produced by the government-owned generator Agus
Complex. The said hydro power plant supplies 500 megawatts or around 60% of
Mindanao’s power demand and 200 MW passing through NGCP’s Balo-i Substation and
lines emanating from it.
NGCP is a privately owned corporation in charge of operating,
maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid. NGCP transmits
high-voltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the
interconnected system of transmission lines and towers, substations
and related assets. NGCP’s regular maintenance activities and expansion
projects aim to enhance the reliability and quality of electricity delivered to
customers. (NGCP/PIA9)