Meralco, Megaworld on a tie-up for new power substation in McKinley Hill
By Myrna M. Velasco – November 15, 2021, 5:05 PM
from Manila Bulletin
Power utility giant Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and prime township developer Megaworld Corporation have cemented partnership for the installation of a new power substation at the bustling McKinley Hill in Taguig City.
The new power substation that will reinforce electricity distribution services to business-locators in the area, according to Meralco, is a core initiative of the two firms “to drive economic recovery post-pandemic.”
The site of the blueprinted power facility will be in a 1,694-square meter property in McKinley Hill, and it will be transformed into a new gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) substation that will house three 83-megavolt ampere (MVA) transformer banks, hence, their aggregate capacity will be 249MVA.
The facility’s construction will begin by February next year and its completion is targeted within eight (8) months or until October 2022.
“Not only will the new substation support the power demands of businesses, institutions, and communities within McKinley Hill, McKinley West, and nearby areas — it will also help address the critical loading of the two existing transformer banks of Meralco at the Malibay substation,” the power firm noted.
As emphasized, “the new substation will improve system reliability, voltage regulation, power quality and distribution efficiency for key establishments,” including McKinley Hill Village, McKinley West Village, Venice Grand Canal, Mc Kinley West Campus, Viceroy Residences, Venice Luxury Residences and Enderun Colleges.
Jennifer L. Romualdez, senior vice president and head of Operations Management of Megaworld, said “this initiative will help a variety of sectors and communities prosper and recover from the impact of the pandemic.”
To note, the 5-hectare McKinley Hill, which forms a major part of the Bonifacio Capital District, is one of the four townships and the biggest in Metro Manila that was developed by Megaworld in that flourishing business district – and it is a home to roughly 40 residential towers, an exclusive residential village and 23 office towers that include international schools, foreign embassies, a full-scale lifestyle mall as well as some LEED and office buildings accredited by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
With the installation of a new power substation in the area, the power utility firm indicated that “amid Megaworld’s continuous expansion…Meralco’s new substation means future tenants need not worry about power service.”
As conveyed by Ronnie L. Aperocho, senior vice president and head of networks of Meralco, the project is being embraced by the company as its “great responsibility in how the Philippines’ economic growth can continue to drive.”
He added the power firm is one with Megaworld “in its goals to develop sustainable and progressive cities, which will complement the local community and national development.”
