Bombing of NGCP transmission tower causes Mindanao blackouts
By Myrna M. Velasco – October 25, 2022, 3:25 PM
from Manila Bulletin
Several areas in Mindanao had been plagued with blackouts following the bombing of a transmission tower of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) which triggered the tripping of its 138-kilovolt (kV) Baloi-Aurora transmission line.
“The tripping was due to the bombing of Tower No. 8 of the said line located in Sitio San Isidro, Barangay Bagombayan, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte…the bombing resulted in the toppling of the said tower,” the transmission firm reported.
The areas that had been plunged into darkness since Monday (October 24) were the entire Zamboanga Peninsula – primarily Zamboanga del Norte which included the cities of Dipolog and Dapitan.
The other domains suffering from power service interruptions had been those in Zamboanga del Sur — including Pagadian City and Zamboanga City; as well as Zamboanga Sibugay; the entire Misamis Occidental; and parts of Lanao del Norte.
According to NGCP Spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza, it may take two to three (2-3) days before electricity services in the affected areas could be restored.
Based on initial report, NGCP indicated that “a still-unidentified individual was found at the scene with fatal injuries,” albeit it qualified that “it is unclear if this is related to the bombing (incident).”
The transmission company further narrated that a preliminary assessment of the responding authorities affirmed the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by the perpetrators in blowing up the tower.
At this stage, NGCP emphasized that the incident is still “under investigation”; and repair of the bombed tower “will commence as soon as the area is secured.”
The transmission firm said it is “currently coordinating with local law enforcement to secure the area as repairs are to be done by NGCP personnel.”
Bombing of transmission towers appears to be a recurring incident precipitating distress to the consuming public – including the businesses that will be afflicted when electricity service is unexpectedly cut off because of these unwarranted incidents.
As noted by NGCP, “bombings only serve to increase the burden of the public, which must suffer through power interruptions when towers are bombed.”
Along that precept, NGCP raised warning that “the conduct of suspicious activities within or along the power transmission corridor may disrupt the transmission of power” and that is punishable by law — with a penalty of as much as P200,000 or 12 years imprisonment, or both.
