The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has appealed for the government to intervene and help clear the impediment thrown at its 500-kiloVolt transmission project in Cavite that risks the delivery of electricity not only in Luzon and Metro Manila but even beyond.
According to NGCP, the Tuy – Dasmarinas transmission project has been thrown into disarray by the recall of a writ of possession (WOP) in its favor in the expropriation case against E.M. Ramos & Sons and other defendants impacted by 16 of 135 transmission towers to be constructed for the project.
The recall of the writ threatens the development and entry of new capacity to the transmission system.
The NGCP said the expropriation court already issued a WOP on three properties affecting six transmission towers as early as 2020 that the Dasmarinas Cavite Regional Trial Court in November last year thwarted with a recall order and directing the NGCP to relocate one of the towers.
St. Francis Square Realty Corp., also a respondent in the expropriation case, similarly filed a partial reconsideration of the judgment and requested the relocation of yet another tower.
NGCP quickly appealed for the court to reconsider, arguing that the relocation of public infrastructure subject of an expropriation case is beyond the powers of an expropriation court absent the finding of fraud, bad faith or abuse of discretion.
The company said the issues await resolution by the expropriation court.
“These setbacks will most likely delay the completion of the Tuy-Dasmarinas project and will have an effect on transmission services. We are not only talking about the provinces of Cavite and Batangas but the entire Luzon and the interconnected Visayas and Mindanao grids,” NGCP said.
NGCP emphasized the project is of critical importance as it will allow the entry of big power companies in Batangas and that any delay in implementation will necessarily impede the addition of supply from new power plants.
At present, the NGCP’s Calaca substation is the only substation in the western part of Batangas through which over 2,000 megawatts of power from generating plants in the area are transmitted. The majority of these serve the needs of consumers in South Luzon and Metro Manila.
The NGCP reiterated the timely completion of the Tuy-Dasmarinas line is of critical important, more so now that a proposed 5,215.55 MW of power is coming into line in the Calaca area, based on Department of Energy estimates.
“The expropriation cases were filed as early as 2019. The issuance of WOPs are both ministerial and summary in nature. It ought not to be the cause of delay for the implementation of a vital national infrastructure project, such as a transmission project,” NGCP said.
“The development of new substations and transmission facilities are essential to support the continuous power requirement of our fast growing economy. We have to remain ahead of the requirement of the system. Otherwise, we may face power interruptions to customers in parts of Metro Manila, north, and south Luzon. We hope for the expeditious settlement of these concerns lodged with the expropriation court so that we may complete the project soonest and ensure the continued improvement of the country’s transmission system,” the NGCP said.
