NGCP blasts property firm’s ‘tactics’ to delay vital project

MANILA  —National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) blamed a property developer for employing “tactics” to delay the completion of a transmission project in Bataan province crucial to ensuring stable power delivery to consumers.

According to NGCP, the temporary restraining order granted by the Supreme Court in favor of PHirst Park Homes Inc. (PPHI) is stalling the full energization of the Hermosa-San Jose 500-kilovolt line, which is currently transferring a mere 2,000 megawatts (MW), or a quarter of its total 8,000-MW capacity.

The project that was supposed to free up stranded power or unused power in Bataan was initially energized in May 2023. It is among NGCP’s long-delayed transmission projects, as it was originally scheduled for completion in December 2022.

READ: NGCP unlocks Bataan’s stranded power supply

“Regrettably, it appears that the petition filed by PPHI is merely one of its tactics to obstruct NGCP from finalizing the project, despite numerous rounds of negotiations and proposed out-of-court settlements between the involved parties,” NGCP said in a statement on Monday.

It said even the Department of the Interior and Local Government had intervened and gave it the go-ahead to proceed with construction activities, “which PPHI continually tried to block despite the valid permits and writs of possession under NGCP’s favor.”

READ: Energy regulators step up pressure on grid operator

Amid failed talks, which began in February last year, PPHI, a partnership between the Century Properties Group and Japanese firm Mitsubishi Corp., filed for the temporary restraining order.

NGCP said it has received the halt order on July 6, 2023 and has continued to reach out to PPHI “to settle the issue amicably.”

The order covered towers 170 to 178 of the transmission line, “stalling the ongoing stringing of the line’s remaining circuit.”

“NGCP has repeatedly expressed its willingness to negotiate further. Still, we assert that the project’s activities can no longer be delayed given the greater national interest in the project’s immediate completion,” NGCP said. INQ