The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has renewed its call to respect right-of-way (ROW) clearance of transmission facilities following the fire incident that took place on Wednesday.
“NGCP continues its appeal to respect transmission ROW clearances to avoid similar incidents, which threaten both continued transmission operations and the safety of people in the area,” the grid operator said.
On Wednesday, seventy customers in Alabang, Muntinlupa and BF Homes, Paranaque suffered a power interruption after NGCP’s 230-kilovolt (kV) Biñan-Muntinlupa lines 1 and 2 caught fire and weakened the foundation of NGCP’s Tower 34.
Several videos spread on the internet showing the tower collapsing onto the South Luzon Expressway.
The private firm said there was no loss of transmission services during the incident, since the power being carried by the affected lines was transferred to other facilities.
“NGCP is employing alternative options to fast-track the tower repair. We want to make sure that apart from mobilizing our manpower and materials, we also have a viable, safe, and efficient restoration plan,” it said.
Part of its restoration strategy includes lifting the tower using cranes. Emergency Restoration Structure (ERS) was also installed to bypass affected facilities.
Full restoration of the felled tower will take three days, NGCP said. They are coordinating with the Manila Toll Expressway System on the traffic management and public safety as repairs are being done.
On the other hand, Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said it has restored power to the areas affected by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines’s (NGCP) transmission tower that toppled on Wednesday.
The distribution utility said it brought back electricity service to households and establishments on the same day.
NGCP is not doing Right of Way Maintenance! I do not fully blame LGUs for allowing illegal occupation of the ROW as NGCP is not doing it’s job. NGCP’s goal should be to have a Safe, Reliable Power. This will keep our homes comfortable and safe, keeps our businesses prospering and lastly keeps our industries and hospitals open and operating smoothly…
Our lives and livelihoods depend on the flow of safe and affordable power that’s there when we need it. And few things threaten flow as much as trees and other plants that grow too high or come too close to power lines and worst NGCP do not do regular ROW maintenance such that illegal construction on the ROW will be nipped at the bud.
NGCP should do their job in maintaining the ROW and work hard to keep trees, shrubs and illegal structures away from its power lines, towers and other transmission structures.