1-B peso transmission project in Eastern Visayas to be completed by March 2011

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) gave a briefing on the Wright-Calbayog 138-kV Power Transmission Project this morning. Congressman Reynaldo Uy and Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento led local officials and sectoral representatives in the activity which was attended by no less than NGCP President and CEO Walter Brown.


The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has started pre-construction works on the 1.189 billion-peso Wright-Calbayog 138 kV Transmission Project in Eastern Visayas.

Scheduled for completion on March 2011, the project is expected to enhance the reliability and quality of electric power by extending the 138-kV backbone transmission system to the northern part of Samar Island.

Electric power in Northern Samar is presently transmitted through the 69-kV line supported by wood poles which are susceptible to tripping causing outages and frequent electric power service interruptions.

Aside from upgrading the line, NGCP will also expand Wright substation and install improvements on transformers as well as protection and communication equipment. A new substation will also be constructed in Calbayog City.

Upon the completion of the project, the power customers in Northern Samar and nearby localities would be the direct beneficiaries of the stronger transmission network.

Maintaining the stability, reliability and efficiency of transmission of power in the Visayas Grid remains as NGCP's priority. NGCP hopes that the project would jumpstart economic progress in the area which has been hampered through the years, primarily by the underdeveloped basic infrastructures including reliable electric power service.

This project is also implemented as part of NGCP's commitment to the technical provisions of the Philippine Grid Code.

The transmission line component of the project was awarded to Xian Electric of China on August 7, 2009 after an open public bidding. The substation component, on the other hand, was awarded to ABB Philippines on August 17, 2009 after a similar public bidding.

NGCP has already acquired the right-of-way (ROW) on 97% of the identified tower sites.

Since January 15 of this year, the privately-owned NGCP has been the official holder of the franchise to operate and maintain the country's power transmission grid, formerly the domain of the government-owned and controlled National Transmission Corporation (TransCo).