NGCP must process SIS applications in 60 days only–DOE Marcos lifts

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

THE Department of Energy (DOE) will see to it that the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) can process within 60 days the applications for the conduct of system impact study (SIS) so that the construction of proposed power projects would be finished on time.

S IS is an assessment conducted by the Transmission Network Provider or System Operator in addition to the Grid Impact Studies. The SIS is necessary in order to determine the adequacy of the transmission grid and its capability to accommodate a request for power delivery service.

D OE Secretary Raphael Lotilla said it is taking NGCP more than a year to process the SIS applications. Power firms, Lotilla said, have been complaining of delays, “from one and a half to two years in the SIS alone,” in the approval process.

These are the things that we want to be able to address so that renewable energy (RE) developers will be able to focus on the rollout of their projects,” he said. “Transmission is key. So, we need to improve on the system impact studies because these have to be addressed upfront rather than later. The SIS, unfortunately, is rather delayed.”

L otilla said Malacañang is stepping in to make sure that transmission lines and related infrastructure, as well as SIS, are carried out at the pace required by the country’s power needs.

“ The executive secretary (ES) is chairing this one so by the next … we will be looking at how the transmission concessionaire, NGCP, is going to specify the 60-

Mindanao Emergency proclamation

day requirement for approval of just the SISs.

“ That’s why the ES as chair has scheduled the next meeting of the EVOSS (Energy Virtual One-Stop System) steering committee to deal with this issue on the system impact study,” he said.

T he NGCP has yet to comment. It previously said that the list of SIS applications is being reviewed thoroughly because not all are serious applicants.

L otilla acknowledged this.

“[Of those] who have applied for a system impact study, only less than 50 percent actually carry out their projects. So that means that all the others who have applied and did not carry out their projects had gotten in the way.”

However, Lotilla pointed out, this should not be an excuse for the delay. “But there should be a way of purging the list. Even other agencies have a way of cleaning up the list that if you don’t implement your project within a certain number of days, you get replaced.”

T he energy chief stressed that NGCP must figure out a way to speed up the review process. “There could be a process, but what I’m saying is, if the intention is to facilitate, then they could have easily raised these things. I want to stress that we want to work with the private sector and we want to work in a more efficient and effective way and so this process is intended precisely to achieve that,” said Lotilla.

NGCP holds the sole and exclusive concession and franchise for operating the Philippines’ transmission network.

T he grid operator has committed to concentrate all available resources toward the completion of ongoing transmission projects.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has lifted the State of National Emergency due to Lawless Violence in Mindanao. I n his Proclamation No. 298, issued through Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin on Tuesday, Marcos said he made the decision due to the improving security conditions in Mindanao. “ Through successful focused military and law enforcement operations and programs that promote sustainable and inclusive peace, the government has made significant gains in improving and restoring peace and order in the region,” Marcos said.

Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte declared the State of National Emergency in 2016 through Proclamation No. 55 due to “spate of violent and lawless acts” in Mindanao.

A mong the violent incidents were abductions, hostage-takings and murder of innocent civilians, bombing of power transmission facilities, highway robberies and extortions, attacks on military outposts, assassinations of media people, and mass jailbreaks.

The conditions then prevailing for which Proclamation No. 55 was issued in 2016 have been significantly mitigated or reduced,” Marcos said.

W ith the lifting of Proclamation No. 55, the chief executive said he hopes to boost economic activity and hasten the recovery of the local economy in Mindanao.

P roclamation No. 55 allowed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to implement measures to suppress any and all forms of lawless violence in Mindanao. Samuel P. Medenilla

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng