The proposed inter-island connection of Palawan and Mindoro Islands was greenlit by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last Tuesday, as part of expanding the national grid.
In order to increase Palawan’s supply by linking it to the main Luzon power grid, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) suggested the said interconnection project by utilizing submarine cables.
With delays in providing Universal Charge Missionary Electrification (UCME) subsidies from National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) to power plants operating in both Mindoro and Palawan, there have been frequent power outages in both regions.
In related developments, Marcos Jr. also ordered the exploration of other renewable energy (RE) sources in the country in the said meeting.
With 125 standalone islands served by small power utility groups, Marcos Jr. also encouraged the exploration of renewable energy sources, expanding beyond solar energy to include other green technologies as well.
According to palace press briefer, Daphne Oseña-Paez, the chief executive gave orders for all renewable energy sources to help the development of rural enterprises in addition to providing electricity for homes.
These highlighted undertakings form part of the government’s drive to support Marcos Jr.’s aspiration of achieving nationwide 100% electrification, as discussed in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).