NGCP to implement ₱13B project to raise transmission capacity in Visayas grid

 

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) will implement a ₱13-billion project that will allow more power to be transmitted to Negros Island.

 

The first stage of the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) 230 kilovolt Backbone Project, which would involve the installation of more submarine cables and overhead lines, is set to be completed in 2015 in time for additional production capacity in Panay in 2016.

 

With the additional production, Panay is expected to have excess power of 574 megawatts (mw) during peak hours and 692 mw during off-peak periods.

 

Excess power can also be transmitted to Cebu when needed.

 

Interconnection

 

"Cebu is a concentrated area with bigger facilities and more (power) supply is needed," said lawyer Cynthia Alabanza, NGCP spokesperson.

 

She said Cebu can get power from other islands in the Visayas because of interconnection in the grid.

 

Nine generating plants with a combined capacity of 356 mw will be constructed in Panay Island, according to NGCP's application. "Thus, by 2015, the total capacity of Panay Island will be almost 733 mw."

 

Panay Island has a total installed capacity of 493.48 mw and a total dependable capacity of 377.4 mw.

 

In a June 24, 2013 decision, the Energy Regulatory Commission approved NGCP's application for provisional authority to implement the project.

 

In its eight-page decision, the ERC said it found NGCP's application "sufficient in form and in substance."

 

Increase

 

The CNP 230kv Backbone Project aims to increase the power transfer capability of the submarine cable interconnection between the Provinces of Cebu, Negros and Panay.

 

Under the project, there will be an extension of the existing 230 kV transmission corridor from the Compostela substation in Cebu to Panay Island.

 

The backbone project, which is part of the power transmission company's Visayas Grid Development Program, will be implemented in three stages.

 

The entire project is expected to be completed in 2021, said Hannel Tamayo, NGCP Visayas system planning division project engineer.

 

Capacity

 

If energized at 230kv, the overhead lines will have a transfer capacity of 600 mw per circuit while the submarine cable interconnections will have minimum capacity of 300 mw.

 

"As a private company, we can build what the grid requires," Alabanza said.

 

Tamayo said there is a need to construct new substations and new transmission lines.

 

He admitted, though, that NGCP has difficulties acquiring right-of-way on properties in urban areas.

 

Cities

 

Meanwhile, the company is implementing other transmission development projects such as the connection between the cities of Cebu and Mandaue.

 

A re-routing has to be done via Butuanon River until the Mandaue substation because the original route entailed installing transmission lines along heavily populated areas.

 

Tamayo also said that the Marcelo Fernan bridge can no longer accommodate another cable to connect to Lapu-Lapu City. NGCP opted to build a submarine cable that stretches about half a kilometer to serve Mactan Electrical Company.

 

The Cebu-Lapu-Lapu transmission line project is up for bidding as well as the Calungcalung Colon transmission line in Toledo City.

 

SunStar.com.ph

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1 Million Anti-pork barrel protest set on National Heroes Day – Luneta Park 9 AM

Anti-pork barrel advocates are set to gather at the Luneta Park on August 26, National Heroes' Day, and are using social media to rally participants to their cause.

 

It started out as a simple idea. Friends Arnold Pedrigal, Peachy Bretana, and Bernardo Bernardo created a Facebook event page to gather like-minded people who want the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel scrapped.

 

The gathering, scheduled on August 26, aims to gather one million people to assemble at the Luneta Park for a "massive pocket picnic."

 

The event invitations calls on "ordinary, tax-paying people" to show "government (that) they answer to us. Tayo ang boss dito!" (We are the boss!)

 

The event also states that there will be no banners, no political colors, and no speeches.

 

The event invite was created on Saturday afternoon, August 17. As of this posting, more than 4,500 Facebook users have signified their willingness to join the event.

 

Overwhelming response

 

Pedrigal said the event was inspired by artist Ito Rapadas' Facebook post that urged Filipinos to march against the pork barrel.

 

According to Pedrigal, Rapadas posted the following statement:

 

"What we need is a MILLION PEOPLE MARCH by struggling Filipino taxpayers- a day of protest by the silent majority that would demand all politicians and govt. officials (whatever the political stripes, color they may carry) to stop pocketing our taxes borne out from our hard work by means of these pork barrel scams and other creative criminal acts."

 

"Peachy shared it in her wall in which she suggested to have a Martsa sa Luneta on Aug 26 to coincide with the Araw ng mga Bayani. Peachy's post was then shared by Bernardo Bernardo which I also received. I then suggested creating an event in FB to invite more people," said Pedrigal.

 

"After less than 12 hours, we saw the sudden surge of people who would like to join," Pedrigal told Rappler.

 

Rapadas was surprised at the speed of the reaction online. He told Rappler in an email, "I've been reading the anger and outrage on my social media feeds for several days now. And I share the same frustration that netizens are venting."

 

"The 'one million' line (looking back now) caught the attention of some of my fb friends (only a few read it actually) because it probably gave them a quick visual image in their minds that maybe all the online emotions can be translated to action," Rapadas added.

 

No organizers

 

Though the brainchild of Pedrigal and several others, he is the first to admit that the protest event has no formal organizers, possibly taking inspiration from the Occupy Wall Street Movement in the USA, which was loosely organized.

 

"There is really no formal organizing group. This is a non-partisan event, where we would like the Filipinos to vent out and voice their feelings and sentiments towards the Pork Barrel system."

 

Pedrigal is based in San Francisco, USA, where he is the head of Prowave Media and produces "Power ng Pinoy" a US-based show that features "inspiring stories of Filipino shakers and movers."

 

Bernardo Bernardo is a theater actor based in Los Angeles. Bretana is based in Maila.

 

The lack of formal leaders has lead some to question whether the event will succeed in rallying a million people as intended. It has also lead to some practical concerns, such as who will secure the necessary permit to assemble in front of the Quirino Grandstand.

 

This doesn't seem to bother Pedrigal or the others who have adapted the event as their own.

 

Bernardo posted on the event page, "Sabi nga--Build it and they will come. Just Believe. Makikita mo, magsusulpotan yung mga gusto talagang tumulong. Sooner than you think! (You'll see, those who really want to help will appear.)

 

"The rally is not just for the Filipinos in Metro Manila," said Pedrigal. "It is gaining grounds in other parts of the Philippines such as Iloilo and Zamboanga and (even) outside the Philippines."

 

Rapadas is more cautious. "I don't know if a million can be generated. I personally feel it's not important now if that figure is reachable. What's important is that it remain peaceful and orderly."

 

How to participate?

 

The event is set to begin at 9AM. Those attending are asked to meet at the KM 0 marker adjacent to the Rizal Monument and are encouraged to wear white.

 

On social media, supporters are also encouraged to tweet to @ProtestaNgBayan and post a status message on Facebook that includes the statement:

 

"I am *name* Pinoy ako. I pay my taxes, on-time and full. You, my government, owe me a full explanation."

 

The hashtags #OnePinoy #MillionPeopleMarch and #ProtestaNgBayan are also being used.

 

Online campaigns sprout

 

Though the One Million People March against Pork Barrel may be the first protest rally organized entirely through social media, online campaigns are nothing new in the Philippines.

 

People Power 2 and 3 were largely fueled by people sending text messages within their social networks, calling on others to rally.

 

Most recently, a group of "former senior government officials" started an online petition through the website Change.org to call on Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to "conduct an impartial investigation of the grave misuse of the PDAF."

 

"No benefit can possible justify the crimes it has spawned and the systematic corruption of public institutions and officials it has promoted," the statement read.

 

The online campaign also asked President Benigno S. Aquino III "to constitute a special committee composed of representatives of Department of Budget and Management, Department of Justice, and the private sector to review the PDAF process and to recommend safeguards to ensure that the PDAF is not further abused."

 

Growing disgust

 

The call to junk the pork barrel system has gained a tidal wave of support in recent weeks after news reports revealed the alleged misuse of funds involving members of Congress and fake NGOs.

 

The idea that several elected officials and their cronies have abused the PDAF to enrich themselves has generated intense public anger in a country where the divide between the rich and the poor grows further everyday. -Rappler.com

 

Rappler.com

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