Marcos urges stakeholders to identify energy locations in Visayas

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Monday called on all stakeholders to identify additional locations for energy storage systems in the Visayas region.

Marcos said this in his speech during the ceremonial energization of the Cebu-Negros-Panay 230KV Backbone Project in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

''I implore all our stakeholders in the Visayas to strategically identify suitable locations that will host new baseload generation plans as well as renewable energy and energy storage systems,'' Marcos said.

''This will bolster energy sufficiency and sustainability in Negros and Panay,'' the President added.

Marcos also urged private generators ''to invest in Negros and Panay sub-grids so that the region can meet its energy demands and ensure self-sufficiency in the long run.''

To recall, it was early this year when Panay had experienced power outage leading to P3.8 billion worth of economic losses.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said that the Cebu-Negros-Panay Backbone, which includes the Negros-Panay Interconnection Project Line 2, is comprised of three stages and the last of which was completed last March 27, 2024.

The NGCP said this complements the existing Amlan-Samboan submarine cable which is currently utilized to connect Cebu and Negros islands. The first stage of the CNP Project added a new 230kV transmission line from Bacolod to E.B Magalona, while the 2nd stage upgraded the Cebu Substation into 230kV level.

It added that the CNP is comprised of 670 transmission towers spanning 442 circuit kilometers of overhead lines, 98.9 circuit kilometers of submarine cables with 10 new substations and the expansion of 2 existing major substations.

Marcos, meanwhile, said the national government, the local government units, and the private sectors would work hand in hand in expediting permit issuance in energy projects and acquisition of right of way for transmission lines. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News