MANILA, Philippines - The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is investing more money to strengthen its transmission backbone.
NGCP said it recently launched the substation component of its P1.4-million Southern Panay Backbone Transmission Project (SPBP) in Brgy. Igbonglo, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique.
The groundbreaking ceremony on May 27, 2011 was attended by Antique Governor Exequiel B. Javier and Vice Governor Rosie A. Dimamay; San Jose de Buenavista Mayor Roni L. Molina; Igbonglo Barangay Captain Farly dela Cruz; Yan Jia Yuan, Deputy Manager of Xian Electric; Jimmy Constantino of K Energy; and officials of the Antique Chamber of Commerce and NGCP.
The municipality of San Jose de Buenavista, Antique hosts the new substation which will be constructed along with the expansion of nearby Sta. Barbara substation.
Molina has lauded NGCP for “bringing development closer to those who need it.”
He added that the project will give reliable power supply to the province and facilitate the entry of investors in the municipality, particularly the business process outsourcing (BPO) or call centers.
On the other hand, Dominador S. Geonzon, officer-in-charge of NGCP’s Planning and Engineering, acknowledged the support and endorsement of local officials in Antique, who paved the way for the smooth implementation of the Sothern Panay Backbone Transmission Project.
The transmission project is “the biggest private investment that came to Antique,” according to Javier.
Some investors, Javier said, are hesitant to come to Antique because power supply comes from the power barges in Iloilo and other sources outside the province.
In a speech during the groundbreaking ceremony, Javier extended his gratitude to NGCP president and CEO Henry Sy Jr. for investing in the project in Antique.
Javier said the reliable power supply from the project is expected to attract more businesses and create job opportunities in the province.
NGCP Board director Shan Shewu said the project will not only benefit Antique but the whole island of Panay as well.
The completion of the Southern Panay Backbone Transmission Project will assure Panay island of a stronger and more reliable power transmission system.
The project, which is scheduled to be completed in June 2012, is part of the larger Panay Power Transmission Backbone which involves the construction of a total of 195 kilometers of 138 kV and 69 kV overhead transmission lines utilizing steel tower structures.
Work on the 138-kiloVolt transmission line component of the project already started on April 8.
The project aims to accommodate load growth in support of the Panay island’s socio-economic development; improve voltage profile in Southern Panay as prescribed by the Philippine Grid Code; and enhance system reliability and operational flexibility.
At the same time, NGCP has installed voltage improvement equipment in Zamboanga.
The transmission company is specifically putting up a Static Var Compensator (SVC) in its Naga Mindanao Substation (formerly named Sta. Clara Substation) to improve voltage in northwestern Mindanao.