NGCP assured stable power in Bohol

By Elvira C. Bongosia

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, June 03 (PIA)--The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) assured Boholanos for stable power service in the province amid the increasing power consumption accelerated by Bohol’s development.

This as the P1.1 billion expansion project of the NGCP in barangay Sambog, Corella town will improve the power distribution in the province.

Contrary to earlier speculations, the project has nothing to do with the rumored construction of SM shopping mall, but it is a project that is expected to cater to the increasing power demand in the province.

Winifred Paguia, head of the NGCP Visayas Project Division said that NGCP is set to complete its Ubay-Corella 138-kiloVolt (kV) transmission line and Corella substation project.

After the reconfiguration last June 1, NGCP proceeds with the finishing touches to be able to energized the Bohol Backbone Transmission Project (BBTP) by June 30.

The BBTP will bring more reliable power transmission services to 60 barangays in the towns of Balilihan, Carmen, Catigbian, Corella, Cortes, Dagohoy, Sagbayan, San Miguel and Ubay.

The Corella substation serves as a new power delivery point to reduce the load of Ubay.

This project will ensure stable and reliable power supply in Bohol to serve the growing demand as the development framework of the provincial government has been expanded to cover ICT industry and the BPO sector, in addition to agriculture and tourism as economic drivers.

NGCP believes that aside from addressing Bohol’s load forecast, the project will also benefit the whole Visayas in the future as it will “reinforce the high-voltage transmission backbone and ensure that the power grid remains secure and reliable”.

NGCP recommended for Bohol to acquire power sources that are sustainable and renewable such as solar and hydro.

Bohol is being served mainly by the Tongonan geothermal as well as hydro power plants in Balilihan, Loboc and Sevilla towns and the 16-MW Bohol Diesel Power Plant in this city. (mbcn/ecb/PIA7-Bohol)