Napocor OKs P1.29B worth of contracts

National Power Corp. (Napocor) has approved a package of P1.29 billion worth of contracts for various transmission and substation projects in Palawan, Mindoro, Marinduque and Catanduanes, intended to help reduce unbilled electricity for local distributors.

“These projects will secure a more reliable and resilient transmission system to the provinces we serve,”, Pio Benavidez, Napocor president and chief executive, said in a statement.

The state firm is mandated to operate and maintain the power transmission system in these islands—as well as Masbate—which are all not connected to the main grid that is run by private-sector concessionaire National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

The projects include the installation of a 69-kilovolt transmission line from Roxas to Taytay in Palawan, the contract for which was awarded to SL Development Construction Corp. (SLDCC) and DM Consunji Inc.

SLDCC also secured a contract for the construction of a 5-megavolt amp substation in San Miguel, Catanduanes, to improve the transmission system in that province.

Hansei Corp. won the contract to replace wooden poles with steel and concrete along the 53-kilometer, 69-kv transmission line from Minolo to Mamburao in Mindoro.

Also, Power Dimension Inc. was awarded the contract to build a new 10-MVA substation in Mogpog, Marinduque, and rehabilitate and transfer the existing 10-MVA substation in Boac to Mogpog.

According to Napocor, these projects in Marinduque will ensure the safe and reliable transmission of power from Boac to the Torrijos load end substation.