The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) announced the near completion of improved major facilities in the Visayas that could withstand stronger typhoons – three years after supertyphoon Yolanda hit the region.
In a statement yesterday, the NGCP said that it took Yolanda as a lesson to reinforce and protect the crucial transmission backbone of the entire power industry.
The improvement of standards on design and operations in its major facilities is expected to be completed in 2017, NGCP said.
“NGCP sees no other way to prepare for similar weather disturbances in the future than to reinforce our facilities and adapt better contingency plans. For these two projects, 196 towers–73 for Ormoc-Tongonan and 123 for Panitan Nabas – have been designed to endure stronger typhoons,” it said.
The grid operator overhauled its plans to strengthen its transmission facilities designed to withstand typhoon winds 240 to 300 kilometers per hour in strength.
The grid company also turned over 21 typhoon-resilient three – classroom buildings in various elementary schools in Leyte – who was greatly affected by the typhoon.
NGCP said that the classrooms are have reinforced roofing, thicker walls, and movable dividers for indoor school activities and evacuation centers during calamities.
“The damage caused by Typhoon Yolanda not only served as the catalyst to overhaul then-current facilities and contingency plans, but also a call to double the efforts to support our partner communities long after the typhoon has passed. Our partners can be assured that NGCP continues to look for opportunities not only to rebuild but to rebuild the community and the nation stronger and better,” NGCP said.
Typhoon Yolanda hit Visayas on Nov. 8, 2013, killing over 6,000 people and left massive damage to infrastructure including transmission and power facilities.