A large part of Western Mindanao experienced a power outage on Monday after still unknown suspects sabotaged a transmission tower of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).
Tower Number 60 of NGCP’s Balo-i-Aurora 138kV line located in Barangay Poona in Tangcal, Lanao del Norte, was toppled due to an “intentional pilferage of transmission line parts,” the NGCP said in a news statement issued on Tuesday.
As a result, a power interruption occurred at 10:13 a.m. on Monday, affecting power consumers in the western part of Mindanao.
The sabotage was followed by manual load droppings affecting customers of electric cooperatives in three provinces of Zamboanga, Misamis Occidental and parts of Lanao del Norte.
“NGCP is working with authorities to secure the area and to identify the perpetrators of the sabotage,” the firm said.
“Restoration of Tower 60 will commence as soon as the area is secured,” NGCP added.
The NGCP said that sabotaging its transmission lines and structures will only burden the public with power service interruptions.
“NGCP continues its appeal to the public, local and national government, and local community leaders to help identify the perpetrators of sabotage and prevent power interruptions,” the NGCP said.
Image credits: NGCP