P1.23-M Transco power equipment stolen

CABANATUAN CITY — At least P1.23 million worth of equipment in the various transmission towers of the National Transmission Corp. (Transco) in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija have been reportedly lost to thieves, raising the specter of a possible power outage in the Luzon grid.

Alvin Estanislao, principal engineer of the Transco-North Luzon operations and maintenance and district office, said that of the 1,233 cases of looting in the 60 transmission towers of Transco in Pantabangan town, 645 were uncovered in January, 297 in February and 291 last month.

Pilferage refers to the manual dismantling of angular steel members of transmission towers.

"The situation is very alarming because if the transmission towers collapse, we might experience a system blackout in the Luzon grid," he said.

Transco’s North Luzon operations and maintenance district office holds jurisdiction over the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Aurora.

Ortiz said they have requested help from Nueva Ecija Gov. Tomas Joson III and Pantabangan Mayor Lucio Uera in preventing the massive looting of equipment in the transmission towers. — Manny Galvez