NGCP’s role in power industry clarified

By Alfonso T. Ruda

DIPOLOG CITY - The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) facilitates the transmission of power from the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) to the distribution facilities based on the power allocation indicated in the contract between the National Power Corporation (NPC) and the distribution facilities or electric cooperatives, said NGCP’s Corporate Public Affairs Officer in last Sunday’s “Kapihan sa Dipolog” radio program.

Corporate Public Affairs Officer Elizabeth Ladaga explained “the NGCP is a private corporation in-charge of the operation and maintenance and expansion of transmission network in the country. It serves as the link between NPC and the electric cooperatives and distribution utilities.”

“It has nothing to do nor control over the power generation. However, it manages the system and makes sure that any available power supply is efficiently to the consumers,” Ladaga added.

Engr. Armand Desico, of NGCP’s Operation and Maintenance Division said that the three major players are involved in power industry from generation, transmission, and to distribution. He also urged the public-consumers not to immediately blame either NPC or NGCP or electric cooperatives for any power interruption, as “there are instances that a power interruption may have happened at the source, in the transmission process or at the level of distribution utilities.”

Desico said NGCP has been intensifying its information dissemination campaign to remind the public of the safety measures to avoid the occurrence of unplanned power interruption in their area.

Engr. Hermie Hamoy of the NPC agreed with Desico saying unplanned power interruption may happen due to grass fires, structures built under power lines, trees planted, vehicles parked and antennas that are near or under the transmission lines.

Aside from these, he also cited the terroristic activities of the lawless elements, causing damage to its transmission facilities. 

Moreover, Engr. Desico announced the energization last Jan. 11 of the newly completed 230-kiloVolt Abaga-Kirohon line which is the last component of its Mindanao transmission backbone project.

The project, which has a span of 122 kilometers, crosses the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon, including the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro.

Prior to the completion of Abaga-Kirohon line, two sections of the transmission line project were completed, the last of which was the Kirohon-Maramag 230-KV line, which was energized in August 2014.