National Power Corporation president and chief executive officer Pio Benavidez expressed hope last week that the 69-kV transmission line around the island would be completed by 2022.
“Hopefully by 2022, buo na ang linya natin,” he told local officials led by Gov. Joseph Cua, who represented Cong. Hector Sanchez, Acting Gov. Shirley Abundo, PBM Edwin Tanael and Mayors Francisco Camano Jr. of San Miguel and Juan Rodulfo of Bato.
The good news was relayed by Napocor’s big boss during the brief program at its Marinawa headquarters for the groundbreaking for the Kilikilihan 5MVA Substation and the ceremonial inauguration of the 5MVA Codon Load End Substation and the 15-kilometer Virac-San Miguel 69kV transmission line last July 25, 2019.
Benavidez was joined by Acting Gov. Abundo, PBM Tanael, Mayor Camano, and barangay officials during the groundbreaking, with Rev. Fr. Joel Teves blessing the 2,800-sq. meter lot along the national highway.
Abundo had earlier said that it has been frustrating for elected officials to fail to deliver the service wanted by the people as they have limited power over the problem of frequent brownouts which has been there since she was first elected as PBM.
“FICELCO will have its own solution,” she remarked, as Napocor has already responded to the need of Catanduanes.
In his message read by Cua, the congressman disclosed that 20 years ago he had anticipated a much higher load due to foreseen development.
“My platform of governance during the campaign for stable, reliable power supply is beginning to gain ground,” Sanchez stated. “We will not stop here as I will push for the connection of the Catanduanes grid to the Luzon grid as one of my first bills.”
He promised Catandunganons that it will be started and finished during his three-year term, thanking Benavidez for the more productive partnership with NPC to solve the power problems of the island.
In his response, the NPC president urged the congressman to coordinate with Task Force China on the grid interconnection to the mainland, as the power line could be included in the proposed Friendship Bridge.
He said that the requested power barge will be sent to the island but expressed reservations as it would need a berthing facility.
“Baka maanod ng bagyo,” he added, noting that the power barge at Bato was swept away by flooding during a typhoon years ago.
Benavidez announced that the Solong to Marinawa tie line was set to be connected to the transmission line last July 27 while the Codon substation was still undergoing testing.
“We are working to FICELCO to achieve our common objective of minimizing brownouts,” he stressed. “Hopefully, a new Competitive Selection Process will settle who will supply power to the island.”
The 69-kV line from Kilikilihan to Panganiban town is set for procurement, with the line already surveyed An issue with the land needed for the Payo substation could result in the relocation of the facility to an area near the NPC’s Viga diesel power plant. However, Cua told the NPC chief that the issue has already been settled.
Benavidez also said that the Baras-Gigmoto area will be a separate transmission line either from Kilikilihan or Marinawa. As the Codon to Caramoran line is very lengthy with virtually no load in between, the NPC might connect Panganiban to Caramoran directly, he added.
“We assure you of our continued hard work and selfless service to Catanduanes,” the Bato native averred.