Blackout to hit Ilocos

LAOAG CITY, Philippines – The entire province of Ilocos Norte and parts of Ilocos Sur will experience up to nine hours of power interruption tomorrow, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) announced yesterday.

To be affected by the blackout are the towns of Sta. Maria, Narvacan, Burgos, Nagbukkel, Santa, Sta. Catalina, San Vicente, Caoayan, Bantay, San Ildefonso, Sto. Domingo, Magsingal, San Juan, Cabugao and Sinait and Vigan City in Ilocos Sur.

Lilibeth Gaydowen, NGCP North Luzon communication and public affairs officer, said the blackout would pave the way for the stringing of the San Esteban-Laoag 230-kiloVolt transmission line.

Gaydowen said the San Esteban-Laoag transmission project, which would strengthen and improve the reliability of the Luzon grid, is 89 percent complete.

She said the San Esteban-Laoag linkup would provide power highways and transmission lines from various wind power projects, including the 150-megawatt Energy Development Corp. Burgos project, 18-MW Northwind Power Project Phase 3 and the 81-MW  North Luzon Renewable Energy Corp. wind project.