Meralco targets completion of New Clark City network in time for November SEA Games

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is targeting to complete the initial part of its power distribution network in New Clark City by the first half in time for the Southeast Asian Games (SEA) in November.

The consortium of Meralco, Marubeni Corp., Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc. and Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc. secured a contract from the state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to provide power distribution services in New Clark City in Tarlac.

However, the power contract has yet to be awarded to Meralco and its partners.

The consortium is already working on the detailed planning for the distribution network, said Meralco senior vice president Alfredo Panlilio.

“We’re forming a team. It’s not officially awarded yet, but we’re getting ready.  We’re working ahead because we know the timelines are very tight,” he said.

While there’s not much demand expected in New Clark City this year, the consortium needs to be able to lay down the initial ground work to be able to supply power service when the country hosts the SEA Games in November.

Meralco is looking to complete the first wave of infrastructure by June, Panlilio said.

“We’re still completing the detailed planning. But the main load we’re expecting is the SEA Games, that’s before the end of the year,” he said.

Meralco will also have to file for an application for the capital expenditure program for New Clark City.

The BCDA earlier set the power distribution ceiling rate for New Clark City at P1.25 per kwh.

The Meralco-Marubeni consortium made a power distribution rate offer of P0.6188 per kilowatt hour (kwh) for the project, beating the P0.9888 per kwh bid of the Aboitiz-Kepco consortium of Olongapo Energy Corp. and Kepco Philippines Holdings Inc.

The New Clark City is envisioned to be the country’s first smart, disaster-resilient, and sustainable city.

Because of its strategic location in Northwest Luzon, the New Clark City is being positioned as one of the solutions to decongesting Metro Manila as several government agencies will be relocated there.

The New Clark City is one of the priority projects in the government’s infrastructure plan. It spans 9,450 hectares and is estimated to house up to 1.12 million people.

The first phase of the development, covering 60 hectares, will feature the National Government Administrative Center, where at least 21 government offices are currently being considered for relocation to Clark.

It will also house a world-class sports comple, which is currently under construction in time for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Meralco operates Clark Electric Distribution Corp. (CEDC), the sole electric distribution company in the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga.

It is the country’s largest power distributor and its franchise area covers Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite and Rizal, as well as certain areas in Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga and Quezon.