NGCP appeals for public support, strict enforcement of RA 11361 as uncooperative landowners aggravate Mindanao power situation

 Tower 60 of NGCP's Baloi-Aurora 138kV line was toppled due to intentional pilferage at 10:13AM today, January 18. The sabotage caused a power interruption followed by manual load droppings affecting customers in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Misamis Occidental, and parts of Lanao del Norte.

By Jong Cadion

Click link below to read related article…..   - http://pagadianfrontline.blogspot.com/2021/01/ngcp-tower-toppled-due-to-sa    botage.html                                                                                                                      - https://frontlinemindanaobalita.blogspot.com/2021/01/ngcp-appeals-for-public-support-strict.html

PAGADIAN CITY (Jan. 20, 2021) - NGCP continues its appeal to the public, local and national government, and local community leaders to enforce the Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines or RA 11361 as customers in Northwestern Mindanao continue to suffer prolonged power interruptions due to line trippings brought about by uncooperative landowners.

At 1:11PM of January 19, NGCP re-energized its Agus 5-Aurora 138KV line, which tripped at 8:30AM on the same day, after the trimming of maliciously planted vegetation which caused the fault at Sitio Taytay, Ditucalan, Iligan City. The vegetation overgrowth was caused by the landowner’s refusal to allow NGCP to conduct line clearing activities.

NGCP invoked RA 11361 or the Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act to enter the land and trim the illegally-planted vegetation under the transmission line's right-of-way (ROW) corridor.

On January 18, the Baloi-Aurora 138kV line tripped due to the toppling of Tower 60 by the intentional pilferage of tower parts. Overgrown vegetation also aggravated the situation as the landowner refused entry to NGCP personnel while demanding an exorbitant amount in payment for the intentionally planted vegetation.

As of 19 January, NGCP, in coordination with local authorities, was granted access by the landowner of the area where Tower 60 of the Baloi-Aurora 138kV line is located. Repair work in order to restore the said line will commence on Wednesday, 20 January. Permanent restoration of the toppled tower will be determined upon completion of damage assessment. Manual load droppings continue to be experienced by customers in the Northwestern Mindanao area while the line remains unrestored. 

Under RA 11361, it is illegal to construct hazardous improvements, plant vegetation, or perform any activity under the power corridor of transmission lines which may cause power interruptions. It is also illegal under the law to refuse entry to authorized transmission line personnel to conduct clearing and restoration activities. Any person found guilty of committing any of the prohibited acts shall be subject to a penalty of imprisonment of 6 months to 12 years and/or fine ranging from Php50,00000 up to Php200,000.00, at the discretion of the court.

“We implore the cooperation of landowners and the public to respect RA 11361 by not engaging in prohibited activities near or under the transmission line corridor. Hampering the delivery of power transmission services affects not only their immediate vicinity, but the entire region, including hospitals, schools, businesses, and entire communities which largely depend on electricity to operate especially at a time where we face a global health crisis such as COVID-19,” appealed NGCP.

Report any ROW violations or suspicious activities near transmission facilities to NGCP's TIP hotline at TIPNGCP@ngcp.ph or 0917-TIPNGCP (8476427) / 0918-TIPNGCP (8476427).###