NGCP restores quake-damaged substation in Kidapawan a week ahead of schedule

KIDAPAWAN CITY - The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has restored its damaged substation in Kidapawan City a week ahead of its schedule, a company official said on Tuesday.

Michael Ortega Ligalig, head of NGCP in Mindanao, said the Kidapawan substation has been energized on November 10. 

In an advisory, the Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) told consumers they are using as alternate source power from the 69KV Tacurong substation in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat after their facilities, including high-voltage equipment, were badly damaged by the magnitude 6.5 earthquake that occurred on October 31.

Ligalig said that after the repairs, the Kidapawan substation is now ready to accommodate power from the Mount Apo Geothermal Power Plant (MAGPP) located in Barangay Ilomavis in Kidapawan City to the Mindanao Grid once it goes online.

“Access to the substation was also initially hindered by landslides around the area, necessitating rescue of substation personnel by chopper,” he said in a statement.

Ligalig said they immediately sent their workers after roads leading to the damaged substation were seemed safe and passable.

After the assessment, the company implemented a restoration plan.

This plan, he explained, involved clearing of debris; design and installation of scaffolding/support structures; removal of damaged high-voltage equipment; and installation, testing, and evaluation of new equipment.

He stressed that with the collective efforts of their Mindanao personnel and additional line crews from Visayas and South Luzon, the NGCP was able to energize the Kidapawan Substation and Kidapawan-Matanao 138kV Line 1 and 2 a week ahead of schedule.

“Our customers can be assured that we will continue monitoring the situation in the area,” he said.

The NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid. —KG, GMA News