NGCP ‘hopeful’ TRO lifted for vital power line

MANILA, Philippines — The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is optimistic that a court order stalling the completion of a critical power line in Central Luzon will be lifted soon.

The country’s sole power grid operator is hopeful that the issue concerning the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued in favor of Phirst Park Homes Inc. (PPHI) stopping the construction of a portion of NGCP’s Hermosa-San Jose 500-kilovolt (kV) line covering Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan will be resolved immediately.

“We are hoping that the TRO could be lifted immediately so that we can complete the second circuit,” NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza said.

For now, Alabanza said the operating line in Hermosa-San Jose is “enough” to supply the current requirement.

The line 2 serves as a contingency to line 1 in case power gets interrupted.

The P10.2-billion project, energized on May 27, 2023, aims to strengthen transmission services and accommodate new bulk power generation from the Bataan area.

The project also involves the construction of a new 500-kV substation, allowing better voltage regulation and power transfer from existing 230-kV facilities within the area.

The transmission line currently has a transfer capacity of 2,000 megawatts, a quarter of the intended 8,000 MW that cannot be accomplished due to the TRO.

“So we’re really hoping that the TRO is lifted soon so there would be no more problems,” Alabanza said.

In February, NGCP claimed that PPHI “continually tried to block despite valid permits and writs of possession under NGCP’s favor.”

According to the power transmission grid operator, negotiations are still ongoing after it reached out to PPHI “to settle the issue amicably.”