CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is set to inaugurate its new facility in Lanao del Norte province next week, an official said Tuesday.
In an interview, Mae Roselle Curiano, one of NGCP's communication focal persons, said the inauguration is also a "ceremonial switch-on" for its Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP), which is initially set on June 26 pending confirmation from Malacañang.
"This is a new facility and one of the components in the MVIP project in Mindanao," Curiano said, adding that the inauguration will be simultaneously observed with other converter stations in Cebu and Lanao del Norte provinces.
The PHP52-billion MVIP is a landmark undertaking of NGCP that seeks to improve power stability and reliability in the country.
An initial load of 22.5 Megawatts (MW) was carried by the high-voltage submarine and overhead lines from Mindanao to Visayas during its energization on April 30.
Curiano said the MVIP facility in Lanao del Norte is considered the first in Mindanao.
Meanwhile, Curianao said NGCP has also implemented power transformer replacements to update old and aging transformers installed before the privatization of the transmission grid.
From 2018 to 2021, the NGCP replaced 33 power transformers and improved the efficiency and reliability of substation operations, where nine of the stations came from Mindanao with a total equipment cost of US$37.7 million or PHP1.8 billion.
CSR award
Moreover, another power firm, FDC Misamis Power Corporation, was awarded by the local government of Villanueva, Misamis Oriental for its outstanding corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts of the top locators within its economic zone.
The awarding ceremony is in line with the 61st Araw ng Villanueva festivities, with the local government highlighting the company’s significant contributions towards social development and sustainability.
Mayor Jennie Uy-Mendez said FDC Misamis acknowledged its role as a responsible corporation that regularly contributes towards the community through various sustainable initiatives.
"FDC Misamis has always remained committed to supporting education, healthcare, environment, livelihood, and cultural-related activities in Villanueva," she said.
Juan Eugenio L. Roxas, the FDC Misamis president and chief executive officer, said the award reflects the power of collaboration between the public and private sectors in driving meaningful change. (PNA)
