NGCP clarifies Ilocos Norte project not covered by Local Government Code

MANILA, Philippines - The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said over the weekend that it complies with the provisions of prevailing laws and regulations in the implementation of its projects.

This developed after NGCP was accused of failing to secure the endorsement of the local government unit for one of its projects, particularly the San Esteban-Laoag 230-kilovolt transmission line project in Ilocos Norte.

NGCP said the requirement of securing endorsements from local government units is based on the Local Government Code which the National Transmission Corp. (TransCo), as a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC), should comply with.

“The Local Government Code does not apply to NGCP because NGCP is a private corporation, not a national government agency or GOCC,” said NGCP president and chief executive officer Henry Sy Jr.

“We recognize that social acceptability and compliance with environmental regulations and other legal requirements are critical in implementing our projects,” he said.

He also said that the company practices strict guidelines in the conduct of project presentations for planning and engineering transmission projects.

“With the communities’ welfare in mind, we have been doing these project presentations to disseminate information to the affected barangays and other stakeholders,” Sy said.

NGCP is a privately owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid. It transmits high-voltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission lines, towers, substations, and related assets.