The eMagazine of Philippine Information Agency 10 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016
NGCP pushes for law to ease transmission project constraints
ILIGAN CITY – Power grid operator, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), reiterates its support for the passage of the “Anti-Power Line Disturbance Act,” which will criminalize the deliberate planting of trees, and the construction of any structure within the right-of-way (ROW) clearances of power lines across the country.
NGCP is hopeful that the 17th Congress, which convened last July, will refile the bill originally proposed in the previous Congress by House Representatives. The company aims to get the support of the present House Committee on Energy chaired by Representative Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque and the Senate Committee on Energy led by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, in pushing for the enactment of the said bill. The “Act prohibiting the planting of plants and trees, and the construction of any structure under or within the right-of-way clearance of all power transmission and distribution lines and providing penalties for violation thereof” will authorize private grid-operator NGCP, distribution utilities, and electric cooperatives to immediately cut or prune trees, and remove any obstruction to power line. The law, when enacted, is expected to eliminate substantial delays in NGCP’s project construction and regular maintenance activities, particularly with uncooperative landowners and claimants who maliciously plant trees and build structures within the ROW clearance, and demand exorbitant amounts before allowing NGCP access to the property. “Support in the form of legislation will ultimately be for the benefit of power consumers. The issue on settling ROW cases has delayed both
current and new projects of NGCP. It is also a recurring and worsening issue, especially in Mindanao and North Luzon. With the Act, we can expedite the process and improve our turn-around time. The sooner we can complete our projects and maintain our lines, the sooner we can provide secure and reliable power transmission services to the people. We are appealing for the support of our Congress and Senate Committees on Energy by refiling the bill and pushing for its expedited enactment into law,” stated NGCP. NGCP is a privately owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid. It transmits highvoltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission lines, towers, substations, and related assets. The consortium, which holds the 25-year concession contract to operate the country’s power transmission network, is comprised of Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp. led by Henry Sy, Jr., Calaca High Power Corporation led by Robert Coyiuto, Jr., and the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) as technical partner. (Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department, NGCP)
EE tops Regional Quiz Show championship, qualifies for nationals ILIGAN CITY – A team of five BS Electrical Engineering students won first place in the 30th Regional Quiz Show during the recently concluded 12th Regional Student Conference of the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineering Students of the Philippines, Incorporated - Council of Student Chapters (IIEE-CSC) on September 15-17, 2016 hosted by Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT). The team members were Christian Cahig (4th year), Cyrus Jacinto (5th year), Jeric Verano (5th year), Jake Villanueva (4th year), and their team leader Leonardo Nogas (5th year) with coach Prof. Rogelio Bersano. The Regional Quiz Show consisted of three rounds, each with five questions. Each round contained easy, average, and difficult questions worth one, three, and five points respectively. The questions were on Electrical Engineering concepts and Mathematics problems. The conference was participated by nine other schools, namely: Cagayan de Oro College Phinma, Camiguin Polytechnic State College, Central Mindanao University, Lyceum of Iligan Foundation, MSU - Marawi, Mindanao University of Science and Technology, St. Peters College, and Xavier University. MSU-IIT and the second placer, Central Mindanao University will represent Northern Mindanao to vie for the National Quiz Show Championship
to be held at SMX Mall of Asia on Feb 17, 2017. MSU-IIT also won 2nd Runner Up during the Regional Math Wizard that took place on the same day. The three-day conference also included sports, cultural, and special events. Basketball, volleyball, and chess matches were held simultaneously throughout the first two days. Vocal Solo, Popular Dance, and Wanna Be competitions were held during the first day’s cultural night. The pageant Ms. KakaEEbabe 2016 was one of the major highlights of the conference featuring select representatives from each school. The culminating activity was held at Taytay Resort, Buruun where the awarding ceremony took place. (Leonardo Nogas Jr., COET/MSU-IIT)
Pres. Duterte to visit police camp, power plant in NorMin CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – President Rodrigo R. Duterte is slated to visit Northern Mindanao Police Regional Office (PRO) 10 Headquarters at Camp Alagar, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City, September 22. He is expected to have a command conference with the camp’s highest officials and talk to police officers. The president will also visit Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC) Misamis coal power plant at PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate, in Villanueva
town, Misamis Oriental in time for its inauguration, switch on and unveiling of marker. Pres. Duterte together with Department of Energy (DOE) secretary and owners of FDC are expected to attend the event. (PIA10)