CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—A ranking officer of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said the projected increase in power generation in Mindanao would not be meaningful if the flow of electricity is hampered by tripping, a result of intentionally planting trees below transmission lines.
Emmanuel Abellanosa, NGCP Mindanao operations manager, said one of the causes of power outages is the nagging problem of planted trees along the Baloi Substation in Lanao del Norte, where the 30-kilometer, 138-kilovolt transmission lines pass for the Mindanao Grid.
He said the Baloi Substation transmission lines is considered one of the main lines where the bulk or 60 percent of the electricity for Mindanao passes.
NGCP said as early as five years ago, they have already enjoined the communities living near the transmission towers to cut the trees as they would imperil lives when the trees touch the high tension wires and the tripping results to brownouts. “But it seems our plea and encouragement fell on deaf ears since the people there are not acting on our concerns, but instead hinted that they will only talk to NGCP once the trees have grown and could already reach the lines,” Abellanosa said.
He said it was clear the trees were intentionally planted, a leverage for negotiation with the intention to exact money from NGCP.
“We are seemingly helpless and fall hostage to these scheming individuals for they know the problems we will encounter once tripping occurs,” Abellanosa said.
He said that accordingly, the concerned communities are asking NGCP for hundreds of millions in order for them to cut the trees and clear the grounds below the transmission lines. “But we will not do that. If ever NGCP pays for the clearing works, it would be on government terms and we will not succumb to their demands,” he said.
Abellanosa said that they have asked assistance from the military, the police, the local government units and even elevated the problem to Malacañang, but nothing could be done to correct the situation since there is no law that prohibits planting of trees under transmission lines. The prohibition is only based on existing NGCP policies and regulations.
Image credits: Photo courtesy of NGCP