Napocor to bid out Puerto Princesa -- Roxas transmission line

Business World Online

Posted on February 21, 2014 09:01:41 PM

The P154-million contract to develop a five-kilometer transmission line connecting two areas in Palawan will be auctioned off by the National Power Corp. (Napocor) this year, according to a statement on Friday.

The state-run company said the project is already scheduled for bidding in April following the approval of a re-routing of the transmission project.

“The construction of the remaining five kilometers of the 111-kilometer power line connecting Puerto Princesa [City] to Roxas [town] was derailed in 2007 due to right-of-way issues,” Napocor explained.

The re-routing -- which was approved both by Napocor and a private landowner in the area -- will involve the replacement of two transmission towers and four pole structures in the area.

The project will also cover further works on right-of-way clearing, mangrove cutting, bolt tightening and replacing pilfered materials.

“We are looking into long standoff projects of NPC to come up with acceptable arrangement with parties involved to be able to promote a more reliable supply of electricity to missionary areas,” the statement quoted Napocor President Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita as saying.

Napocor explained that Puerto Princesa and Roxas have independent grids to supply electricity to its residents. Connecting their lines will result in better supply for these areas.

Besides Palawan, Napocor -- through its Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) -- is also responsible for the transmission system of five other provinces: Catanduanes, Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Masbate and Marinduque.

Napocor-SPUG is mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (Republic Act 9136), to provide electricity to remote barangays and villages or areas not connected to the country’s power grid. -- Claire-Ann Marie C. Feliciano   source