Help resolve Mindanao blackouts, public urged

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) has renewed its call for public vigilance and cooperation in Mindanao after a National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) transmission tower was torched Friday night.

“We are calling for everyone’s cooperation to immediately resolve the issues in Mindanao affecting not only the NGCP, but the families, individuals and business entities who are experiencing interrupted power supply,” Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada said.

Monsada said the DOE is appealing for cooperation in protecting the Mindanao grid, which may collapse due to bombed transmission towers and the refusal of landowners to cooperate for the repair.

Unidentified men torched an NGCP transmission tower in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on Friday night, causing the Sultan Kudarat-Cotabato City-Datu Saudi Ampatuan 69-kiloVolt line to trip.

The NGCP, which restored power to affected areas on Saturday, said initial findings indicated sabotage.

“NGCP is doing all it can to ensure continued, uninterrupted power transmission services all over the country. However, power interruptions caused by sabotage and tower bombings, are beyond our control,” the grid operator said.

It is appealing to the national and local governments, law enforcement agencies such as the police and the military, as well as to the communities and their leaders to help secure the transmission lines and prevent power interruptions in the region.