The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) warned that expropriation-related delays in the completion of the Tuy (Calaca)-Dasmarinas 230/500-kiloVolt (kV) transmission line and substation project may lead to additional costs for power consumers.
NGCP said the unresolved right-pf-way issue will force it to relocate two power towers which may hamper the entry of an additional 5,215.55MW in proposed generation capacity near Calaca, Batangas.
The company filed expropriation cases against E. M. Ramos and Sons Inc. and other defendants who claim interest over the properties affected by 15 of the 135 towers to be constructed for the project.
The expropriation court issued Writs of Possession (WOP) for both cases.
Under the latest order dated April 8, 2024, the regional trial court of Dasmarinas in Cavite, ruled to reinstate the previously withdrawn WOP but confirmed the previous order to relocate Tower 6A and ordered the relocation of Tower 6.
NGCP said ordering the relocation of public infrastructure under expropriation is beyond the powers of an expropriation court, unless there is a finding of fraud, bad faith or abuse of discretion.
“The tower parts for the current route have already been manufactured and it is unlikely that a revised route will make use of the same tower type. We will have to manufacture tower parts from scratch. There is also the matter of additional construction and right-of-way (ROW) costs.
These additional costs must be submitted for the scrutiny and approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) as NGCP is a highly regulated entity. Any additional cost will ultimately be borne by consumers,” said NGCP.
The Tuy-Dasmarinas 230kV transmission line project has been approved by the ERC with an approved cost of P3.05 billion while the Tuy 500kV substation project stage 1 has an applied cost of P8.454 billion but is still awaiting ERC approval.
NGCP said rerouting two of the towers, as ordered by the Court, may significantly delay the project by an estimated 27 months for securing new ROW acquisition and for survey, procurement and fabrication of materials and construction.
NGCP earlier targeted to complete the project in December 2024 In a separate statement, NGCP reported an increase in incidents of transmission line and tower parts theft affecting the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) transmission backbone.
The company said theft incidents were recorded in the Magdugo-Talavera 230kV Line, Magdugo Bus-In Line and Cebu-Magdugo 230kV Line which resulted in the disappearance of essential tower parts from 12 transmission towers, including column collectors, bolts, nuts, and washers.
NGCP said its has taken immediate action to mitigate its impact and ensure the integrity of the transmission infrastructure. Continuous assessments of every transmission tower along the affected route are also underway to determine their status.
Additionally, NGCP personnel are actively visiting local junk shops in the vicinity to identify and recover stolen materials.
NGCP warned that under the Anti-Pilferage Law, the theft of electricity and power transmission lines/materials may be penalized with imprisonment ranging from 12 to 20 years with the possibility of increased sentences if committed in connivance with corporation officers or employees.
Fines ranging from P50,000 to P100,000 may also be imposed with bail amounts set at P40,000, although non-bailable offenses apply if committed in collusion with corporation personnel.
Last March, NGCP filed cases against five apprehended suspects who were caught attempting to sell pilfered wires at local junk shops as the company coordinates closely with local government units and the Philippine National Police to address the issue and prevent further incidents of pilferage.
“NGCP emphasizes the seriousness of such acts, as they not only compromise the structural integrity of transmission towers but also pose a threat to public safety and may result in power interruptions affecting communities,” the company further said.
