Still no firm government policy aid on NGCP’s right-of-way problems

by Myrna Velasco October 21, 2015

It is an electricity system predicament that had been pestering Mindanao consumers with blackouts since early this year, but until now the government cannot seem to get its act on a firm policy that could aid the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on its right-of-way (ROW) problems in the southernmost power grid.

The transmission firm has raised this concern up to the office of President Benigno S. Aquino III, but there had been no concrete action yet from the Palace.

With the ROW dilemmas triggering recent power interruptions in the grid again, the Department of Energy (DOE) can just extend the “weakest of support” to the troubled power system operator – that is: an appeal to the local government officials.

All government agencies appeared to be helpless in dealing with the “adamant stance of landowners” who keep on re-planting trees below the power transmission lines – which in exchange for uprooting or cutting off of the trees, they have been demanding exorbitant settlement amounts.

It was noted that such dilemmas can only be resolved with finality if there is an Executive Order issued by Malacanang or a legislated policy that shall ban planting or cultivating of trees or plants under transmission facilities – and must similarly treat such vital installations to be of critical nature to the country’s economic well-being.

At this stage, DOE officer-in-charge Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada cannot exert much effort, except to “appeal particularly to the local government units and landowners to cooperate with NGCP… in resolving the transmission issues on right of way and easements.”

Monsada is into this act of “moral suasion,” noting that such may help “prevent unwarranted power supply disruptions and avoid power-related incidents to occur.”

NGCP has reported to the energy department that “landowners in various areas refused to allow their crew members to enter their premises to clear fallen trees and vegetation that pose a threat to the safe and reliable operation of the power lines.”

The energy department, in a statement to the media, has emphasized that NGCP “reported difficulty in seeking permission to cut trees under transmission lines that eventually caused tripping of lines.” Monsada stressed that “distribution utilities and NGCP should be given right to access or traverse designated area of the real property to ensure that potential hazards are proactively managed before they encroached on the power lines.”