Group flags conversion of NGCP lots for housing

CEBU, Philippines — A group of advocates for electricity rights has raised  serious  concerns over proposals to convert National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) properties in Duljo-Fatima and Talamban into residential or socialized housing sites, warning that the move could cripple Cebu s power grid.

In a statement, Cebu Electricity Rights Advocates (CERA) convenor Nathaniel Chua not only raised these concerns but also stressed that the move could undermine energy stability as early as 2026.

Chua, in the same statement, said the NGCP-designated lots are not idle or vacant lands but critical components of the Metro Cebu Transmission Loop, serving as strategic entry points for power distribution into the city s commercial and residential centers.

 These lots are essential nodes for stabilizing Cebu City s power grid. Losing them would permanently cripple the grid s future,  Chua said.

Chua s remarks came amid statements from Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, who earlier said the city is reviewing land availability for additional Medium-Rise Buildings (MRBs) beyond Lorega, including properties tied to NGCP.

Archival had previously said that while approvals have already been secured, the transfer of land ownership remains the main hurdle delaying construction.

The NGCP property in Talamban, he added, has long been eyed for socialized housing, but jurisdictional and ownership issues must still be resolved before any project can proceed. Once land transfers are completed, Archival said the city could build up to three additional MRBs to accommodate displaced families.

For his part, Chua stressed that Duljo-Fatima is targeted for substation upgrades meant to prevent overloading in downtown and southern districts, while Talamban serves as a vital corridor for 230-kilovolt transmission lines linking northern generation plants to urban load centers.

Chua further warned that converting these sites for residential use would derail planned installations of capacitor banks and static var compensators (SVCs) that keep voltage stable at 230,000 volts. He noted that newer 230kV lines require larger towers, wider safety clearances, and expanded substation space compared to older 138kV facilities.

 Converting critical transmission lots into residential areas is a catastrophic miscalculation,  he said.

CERA also flagged Cebu s thin power reserve, which Chua said frequently dips below the 200-megawatt safety buffer, placing the province at risk of brownouts and voltage instability during peak demand.

 International investors look for energy resilience and a stable power reserve. Without that, capital will simply go elsewhere,  Chua said, adding that Cebu s economy is already being  choked  by limited power margins.

Cebu s power demand is projected to reach 2,108 megawatts by 2030, making long-term transmission planning critical, Chua said.

Chua further cautioned that if NGCP lands are lost, the cost of acquiring new land for future power upgrades will ultimately be passed on to consumers through higher monthly electricity bills.

 Stable power reduces appliance damage and prevents brownouts. Undermining the grid hurts everyone, especially the poor,  he added.

He also questioned the wisdom of relocating families from river easements and landslide-prone areas only to place them under high-voltage transmission lines, describing it as a  danger zone to danger zone  swap.

 This does not solve the housing crisis. It creates a new class of permanently displaced citizens,  he said, urging authorities to identify safe, permanent relocation sites away from high-voltage corridors.

He emphasized that maintaining NGCP lots for their intended utility purpose is a preventive measure against future power shortages and technical bottlenecks, calling for consultative and collaborative planning between the city, NGCP, and stakeholders.

 We will not stand by while the technical future of Cebu s power grid is bartered away for political optics,  Chua said.

CERA, however, reiterated that any relocation program must be balanced against long-term energy security, warning that short-term housing solutions should not come at the expense of Cebu s power stability and economic future.