Power interruptions in Tacloban to go on until 2025 鈥� NGCP
INQUIRER FILES
TACLOBAN CITY — Residents of this regional center of Eastern Visayas will continue to experience scheduled power interruptions until early next year.
This situation comes as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) works to replace aging electric wooden posts with more durable steel poles.
Ricardo Lozano, district manager for the Visayas operations and maintenance of NGCP, said while they were committed to expedite the project in Tacloban, several factors slowed the progress down.
“If we conduct the work continuously, prolonged power interruptions could last three to four weeks. We want to avoid that,” Lozano said in an interview on Nov. 25.
“Additionally, we’ve received requests from local government units and government agencies to postpone power shutdowns due to events like fiesta celebrations or state-sponsored examinations.”
Article continues after this advertisementDespite the delays, Lozano said the project would be completed by 2025.
Article continues after this advertisement“We aim to finish the pole replacement ahead of the general elections next year and in anticipation of increased power demand during the summer season,” he said.
Lozano did not disclose the budget allocated for the pole replacement program.
The NGCP has identified at least 55 wooden posts that need to be replaced with steel poles.
The posts are located along three-line segments serving Tacloban City and the nearby towns of Babatngon and Palo.
These areas are under the jurisdiction of the Leyte II Electric Cooperative (Leyeco II)which services more than 90,000 consumers.
The pole replacement project began in 2013 following the widespread damage caused by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) which devastated Tacloban and toppled numerous power poles.
Of the 202 wooden posts originally slated for replacement, 147 have already been upgraded to steel.
“The remaining wooden posts are mostly rotten and need urgent replacement. Steel poles are more reliable and durable, ensuring better service and safety for our consumers,” Lozano said.
