PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed on Friday the country’s power transmission service provider to ensure that the three-day total blackout in Panay Island early this month will not happen again, with its dire impact on the economy and the inconvenience it brought to the people of the island.
“The power interruption caused P3.8 billion in economic losses in the Province of Iloilo alone, notwithstanding the inconvenience that it brought to the people of Western Visayas,” President Marcos said as he led the energization of the 450-megawatt Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP) in a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace.
“So, let’s move forward with the lessons we have gained from this blackout, ensure that this massive inconvenience and loss for our people should not occur again. We acknowledge the NGCP’s [National Grid Corporation of the Philippines] immense responsibility and role in maintaining the stability of our grid, including the need to ensure the completion of critical interconnection projects and to undertake other necessary activities to support a safe, reliable grid operation,” he said.
The President said he looks forward to NGCP’s assurances in the promised completion of the 230 kV Cebu-Negros-Panay backbone project by March of this year, as well as the commitment it made to complete the Hermosa-San Jose 500 kV transmission lines next month.
Despite the daunting tasks, Marcos called on the transmission service provider to faithfully fulfill its obligations which are necessary for the progress of the country.
The President reiterated the need for greater responsibility, transparency, and accountability among key players in the power sector with the NGCP as the singular operator of the Philippines’ united power grid.
Marcos also made an assurance that similar support and cooperation will always be extended continuously by the government to ensure the timely completion of all these significant transmission projects—particularly those that will relieve congestion, as well as those needed to deliver additional capacities that can be provided by renewable energy.
At the same time, Marcos said he directed the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to complete the reset of NGCP’s rate without further delay. He also directed the Department of Energy (DOE) and the ERC to look into the proposal of allowing third parties to construct transmission projects at the pace required by the country’s power needs.
The Philippines made history Friday with the energization of the 450-megawatt MVIP by physically connecting the three major power grids, those of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The infrastructure will allow power generated in Mindanao to supply homes and establishments in Visayas and now all the way to Luzon, and vice versa, the President said.
