The restoration of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ (NGCP) special transmission towers (photo above) in Bohol is expected to be an “engineering challenge,” according to officials.
Tower 39, located on Lapinig Island in Pres. Carlos P. Garcia town, and Tower 40, located in Ubay town on mainland Bohol, were brought down to the ground by Typhoon Odette last week. Both towers’ location are close to Odette’s path.
“Right now, ongoing po yung pag-aaral kung ano ang pinakamahusay na parat para mapalitan mga towers na ‘to at ma-continue natin yung transmission service,” NGCP Engineering Project Management Department Head Randy Galang said at a press briefing on Thursday.
The two towers, which serve as part of NGCP’s Leyte-Bohol interconnection, are higher than the usual transmission towers. The grid firm needs to maintain the prescribed clearance for sea vessels to be able to cross the Basiao Channel separating mainland Bohol and Lapinig Island.
The restoration of the both towers is vital in the restoration of power in Bohol, which together with Southern Leyte, are the only entire provinces in the Visayas Grid still without electricity.
Galang said the grid firm aims to restore power transmission to parts of Bohol via island operation by December 31, while the the 138-kilovolt Ubay-Corella line is targeted for restoration by January 15, 2022. He added that Leyte may be also be fully energized by December 31.
NGCP also reported that 82% or 78 of the 95 transmission lines affected by Odette, including the Leyte-Luzon interconnection, have been restored.