By
Lenie Lectura - May 24, 2017
As the country’s sole
power-transmission operator, the NGCP has existing fiber-optic facilities that
run across all three grids in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. This fiber-optic
network is used primarily for internal communication purposes, particularly to
enable real-time communication among its facilities, and with generators for
and distribution utilities. The company has stated its support, through the
leasing of the unused portions of its fiber-optic lines, for government efforts
to upgrade the country’s Internet speed and shorten the amount of time needed
to complete the project.
Last week the DICT
visited the NGCP’s Dasmariñas Substation, following previous coordination
meetings in support of the national broadband program. Information
Undersecretary Denis Villorente and other DICT officials were given a tour of
the NGCP’s Dasmariñas substation by NGCP Chief Administrative Officer Anthony
Almeda.
“The NGCP is pleased to
welcome the DICT to its Dasmariñas Substation, as we are eager to showcase the
availability of our facilities and push this initiative of bringing high-speed
internet nationwide. The NGCP’s wide fiber optic network and related resources
are ready to support this priority program under President Duterte’s
administration. We are confident that with these continuing talks, we can look
forward to the program’s expedited implementation,” the NGCP said. The NGCP
said the spare capacity in the NGCP’s fiber-optic lines may only support part
of the broadband network. “Given that the lines’ primary function is for the
communication between power-transmission facilities, only the unused portions
are available to government or third parties, and may support only part of the
national broadband network at the scale and magnitude contemplated by the
government.
“It may not have the
telecommunications-grade redundancies and last-mile connections, or the final
leg of telecommunications networks that deliver services to the end-users.
The NGCP assures that
its unused fiber-optic capacity will be made available to fill in the needs of
the program,” the company said.
Follow-up meetings,
facility tours and a draft contract for a prospective partnership on the
national broadband are also in the works.
The NGCP is a
Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining and
developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders Henry Sy Jr.
and Robert Coyiuto Jr.
Meanwhile, the grid
operator said on Wednesday its Mindanao operations and maintenance is
under “normal operations”, after the lockdown and the declaration of martial
law at around 11 p.m. on Tuesday.
Power from Agus 1 Hydro
Plant to Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative feeder remains normal. Currently,
only 5 megawatts (MW) is being drawn compared to the normal 12-MW loading.
There is a monitored
tripping affecting Marawi City caused by a disturbance at the NGCP’s Mindanao
State University (MSU) load-end switching station. Transmission-line personnel
cannot mobilize to inspect and fix the affected facility due to the lock down
in the area.
The rest of Mindanao is
experiencing normal power supply. The NGCP is preparing its contingency plans
for the next 60 days.
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