Power highway boost to address energy demand in NCR

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is readying two major facilities, the 500-kilovolt Taguig-Baras line and 230-kV Taguig-Taytay line, to improve the reliability of the already congested transmission system in Metro Manila.

Tagged at an estimated cost of P9.5 billion, the new 500-kV line, which will pass through Taytay, Binangonan and Morong towns in Rizal province, will start construction in February 2019 but initial groundwork is underway.

“With the growing load and steadily increasing demand in Metro Manila and nearby provinces of Luzon, the reliability of power transmission is something that NGCP needs to secure,” NGCP said in a statement.

“The new Taguig-Baras 500-kV line is one of the major transmission network developments for Metro Manila to ensure that the power requirements of the country’s load center will be adequately and reliably served in the long term,” the grid operator added.

NGCP said a new 500-kV Taguig substation would also be built, along with another 230-kV transmission line that would traverse Taguig City toward Taytay in Rizal.

The company said the route survey for the project had already been completed, but with the construction of the new Skyway portion along C-6, coordination meetings have been set for the rerouting of a segment of the Taguig-Baras line.

“We are hoping for the cooperation and support of the public as we aim for the timely completion of the project which will greatly benefit our customers in Metro Manila, Rizal and nearby provinces,” NGCP said. —RONNEL W. DOMINGO