NGCP secures necessary permits for major projects
By Lenie Lectura – October 31, 2023
from Business Mirror
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) was able to fasttrack the permitting process of its P10.2-billion Hermosa-San Jose 500 kilovolt (kV) line and P52-billion Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP) with the assistance of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“The usual chokepoints for our projects are the procurement of right-of-way and the issuance of permits from local governments and other government agencies. While we have been diligent in completing the items needed from us to secure the required clearances, timely permit processing unfortunately remains as one of the bigger stumbling blocks to on-time project completion.
Considering the urgency of our projects, we greatly appreciate DILG’s support to fasttrack the release of the needed permits,” NGCP said Monday.
DILG’s support played a very important role in the completion of several critical projects of the company, according to NGCP.
Since NGCP’s coordination with the DILG, the agency was able to help secure 26 building permits from affected LGUs which are traversed by the MVIP. The DILG’s assistance was also crucial in securing 42 building permits, 45 locational clearances, and eight barangay clearances for the completion of the Hermosa-San Jose 500kV transmission line.
“We are grateful for the assistance of Secretary Benhur Abalos who has extended us every accommodation. He went as far as appointing Assistant Secretary Odie Pasaraba who has been invaluable to us in our coordination with the LGUs,” added NGCP.
NGCP said there is a need for a whole of government approach in pushing for the completion of projects in the energy sector. From planning to implementation, with timely action from the regulator, holistic planning within the power sector, and support from other relevant government agencies, NGCP is confident of its capability to build a smart and resilient power grid.
NGCP is slated to complete other critical projects in Visayas and Mindanao in the coming months. “Our stakeholders can be assured that we will continue our grid improvement, expansion, and reinforcement initiatives to deliver quality and reliable transmission services.”
NGCP also reported Monday that all its transmission lines and facilities are under normal operations during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.
NGCP’s critical units, particularly System Operations and Operations and Maintenance, are fully staffed and operational. Line crews, engineers, pilots, maintenance and testing, and other technical personnel are also strategically positioned in substations to respond to line trippings, if any. Administrative and other support teams also remain on duty.
Also, NGCP said spare parts such as steel poles, emergency restoration systems, and insulators are already prepositioned along with the deployment of heavy equipment for the immediate restoration of facilities, in case it is needed.
“NGCP’s Integrated Disaster Action Plan prescribes these and other measures to ensure the readiness of all power transmission facilities to be affected by emergencies or important national events. With its security and contingency preparations set, NGCP can ensure reliable power transmission services before, during, and after the local elections, including during the manual canvassing of votes,” said NGCP.
The grid operator’s overall command center is monitoring grid disturbances and overall power situation 24/7. Personnel manning the regional and area control centers, critical substations, and the quick response team are on 24-hour shifts, with twice the number of personnel on duty until October 31.
NGCP said it continues to conduct vegetation clearing operations along identified critical transmission lines across the country to minimize the occurrence of grid disturbances caused by obstructions along the power lines.
Other non-critical maintenance works and construction activities inside substations and within 300 meters of energized power lines are suspended until November 3.
