NGCP nears completion of typhoon resistant facilities

By Danessa Rivera (The Philippine Star) | Updated November 11, 2016 - 12:00am
http://www.philstar.com:8080/business/2016/11/11/1642444/ngcp-nears-completion-typhoon-resistant-facilities

MANILA, Philippines - Three years after Typhoon Yolanda, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has nearly completed improved standards on design and operations of its major facilities in Visayas that can withstand stronger typhoons.

In a statement yesterday, NGCP said it applied the lessons learned from the super typhoon to reinforce and protect the crucial transmission backbone of the entire power industry.

After restoration, relief operations, and rehabilitation efforts, NGCP overhauled its plans to strengthen transmission facilities to include designs ready to withstand typhoon winds ranging from 240 to 300 kilometers per hour (kph).

It said it incorporated new tower designs for its Ormoc-Tongonan-Isabel and Panitan-Nabas projects in Leyte and Panay, with technical assistance from local and foreign experts.

These projects are estimated for completion by 2017, the grid operator said.

“NGCP sees no other way to prepare for similar weather disturbances in the future than to reinforce our facilities and adapt better contingency plans. For these two projects, 196 towers–73 for Ormoc-Tongonan and 123 for Panitan Nabas – have been designed to endure stronger typhoons,” NGCP said.

Apart from reinforced facilities, post-Yolanda rehabilitation efforts included the construction and turnover of 21 typhoon-resilient three-classroom buildings in various elementary schools in the heavily affected province of Leyte.

Complying with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) standard for typhoon-resilient structures, NGCP said the buildings were constructed with reinforced roofing, thicker walls, and movable dividers when in use as indoor school activities and evacuation centers during calamities.

“The damage caused by Typhoon Yolanda not only served as the catalyst to overhaul then-current facilities and contingency plans, but also a call to double the efforts to support our partner communities long after the typhoon has passed. Our partners can be assured that NGCP continues to look for opportunities not only to rebuild, but to rebuild the community and the nation stronger and better,” NGCP said.

Typhoon Yolanda raked through Visayas in Nov. 8, 2013, killing more than 6,000 and causing massive damage to infrastructure including transmission and power facilities.