NGCP holds ceremonial switch-on for P51 billion Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection

MANILA, Philippines — The completion of the 450-megawatt Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP) of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) will unlock enormous socio-economic opportunities in the two regions, President Marcos said yesterday.

In his speech during the ceremonial switch-on of the P51.3-billion interconnection at Malacañang, Marcos said this is the first time in the nation’s history that the three major power grids – Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao – are now physically connected.

The energization ceremony was simultaneously held at Malacañang, NGCP’s Dumanjug Converter Station in Cebu and Lala Converter Station in Lanao del Norte.

“The realization of our ‘One Nation, One Grid’ aspiration is definitely a crucial turning point for this country in ensuring reliable power at all times,” Marcos said.

Under the project, a 184-circuit-kilometer High-Voltage Direct Current submarine cable with a transfer capacity of 450 megawatts now connects the Mindanao and Visayas grids through Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte and Santander, Cebu.

Marcos said the infrastructure allows power generation in Mindanao to supply homes and establishments in the Visayas and Luzon, and vice versa.

An initial load of 22.5 MW was carried by the high voltage submarine and overhead lines from Mindanao to the Visayas during its energization on April 30 last year and was gradually ramped up to full capacity, according to a statement from the NGCP.

Parts of the MVIP were already completed in 2022, including the Lala-Aurora 138kV Transmission Line, the 350kV Submarine Cable and Cable Terminal Stations in Santander, Cebu and Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte.

The President, meanwhile, urged the NGCP to complete the 230 kilovolts (kV) Cebu-Negros-Panay backbone project by March this year to prevent a repeat of the Panay Island blackout early this month that caused P3.8 billion in economic losses to Iloilo and inconvenience to thousands of residents.

“This incident emphasized the vital role of these interconnection projects. We cannot afford to have another round of this costly interruption, not only in Panay Island but anywhere in the country,” Marcos said.

The Chief Executive also looks forward to the completion of the Hermosa-San Jose 500 kV transmission lines next month.

“Let me reiterate the need for greater responsibility, transparency and accountability among key players in our power sector, with the NGCP as the singular operator of our country’s united power grid,” Marcos said.

Marcos renewed his order to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to complete the reset of NGCP’s rates without further delay to ensure compliance with its statutory and regulatory obligations and to defend against any attempt to defer, delay or prevent the implementation of regulatory measures.

He also directed the Department of Energy and ERC to look into the proposal of allowing third parties to construct transmission projects at the pace required by the country’s power needs as it grows out of the pandemic economy.