August 31, 2018 | 12:02 am
DAVAO CITY —
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is facing challenges in
land acquisition for the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP), but
assured that the P52-billion infrastructure remains on track for the 2020
target completion.
NGCP Communications and
Public Affairs Officer Michael O. Ligalig said the challenges include valuation
negotiations with landowners, and uncertain ownership due to absence of proper
land titles with sometimes two claimants.
“We have to resolve
first all the right-of-way concerns (to avoid stalling the project rollout),”
Mr. Ligalig said at a media forum here.
He said they started
negotiating with lot owners as early as 2017 and some cases have been filed in
court to resolve conflicts.
The MVIP will link
Mindanao to the interconnected Luzon-Visayas grid, creating a nationwide
network for power supply.
The connecting points
are southern Cebu in the Visayas and Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur,
and Lanao del Norte in Mindanao.
Mr. Ligalig said
Zamboanga del Norte is one of the areas where there are right-of-way issues.
The MVIP will involve
submarine cables spanning 184 circuit-kilometers and 526 circuit-kilometers of
overhead lines.
NGCP plans to begin
laying underwater cables by next year.
“There is no problem in
underwater cabling, only inland acquisition,” Mr. Ligalig said. — Maya M.
Padillo
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