Cebu power at risk if NGCP lots become housing

The Cebu Electricity Rights Advocates (CERA) is sounding the alarm over a proposal that could put Cebu City’s power supply at risk. The group warned on Thursday that converting key National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) properties into socialized housing could seriously undermine the city’s energy stability.

CERA Convenor Nathaniel Chua told DAILY TRIBUNE that safe and permanent relocation sites must be prioritized away from high-voltage corridors. “International investors look for energy resilience and stable power reserves. If Cebu can’t guarantee that, they’ll take their capital elsewhere,” he said. “Right now, our thin power reserve often dips below the 200MW safety buffer. Converting these strategic sites for residential use could cripple Cebu’s energy stability in 2026.”

The city government recently proposed converting NGCP properties in Barangays Duljo Fatima and Talamban into socialized housing. Chua stressed that these lots are far from ordinary plots — they are critical nodes in the Metro Cebu Transmission Loop, vital for delivering electricity to the heart of the city’s commercial and residential hubs. “Losing them would permanently jeopardize the grid’s future,” he said.

Barangay Duljo-Fatima is earmarked for substation upgrades to prevent overloading in downtown and southern districts, while Barangay Talamban forms a key corridor for the 230KV transmission lines linking northern generation plants to urban load centers. “Capacitor banks and static var compensators keep voltage steady at 230,000 volts. Converting these lots into residential areas would be a catastrophic miscalculation,” Chua warned. “These lines require bigger towers, more space, and larger clearances than the older 138KV lines. Any new land acquisition costs would ultimately be passed to consumers, while stable power is essential to prevent appliance damage and brownouts.”

He also criticized the plan as a “danger zone to danger zone swap,” moving families from landslide- and flood-prone areas only to place them under high-voltage transmission lines. “It’s a temporary patch that doesn’t solve Cebu’s housing problem — it creates a new class of permanently displaced citizens,” Chua added.

CERA pointed out that Cebu’s power demand is projected to reach 2,108MW by 2030. An unstable grid, they said, could drive up electricity costs and trigger more frequent brownouts, undermining the very housing programs meant to help the poor. “Keeping these lots for their intended utility is a preventive measure against future power shortages and technical bottlenecks,” CERA said.

NGCP, for its part, said it has yet to receive any official communication regarding the proposed socialized housing projects. Michael Ligalig, lead specialist for Government Relations and Regional Affairs, told DAILY TRIBUNE, “A law already prohibits using these transmission properties for other purposes like housing. No documentation has reached us yet, and any comments on this matter are within the authority of our central office.”

As the debate continues, experts and advocates alike emphasize that safeguarding the city’s energy infrastructure is key — not only for investors and businesses but also for the everyday lives of Cebuanos who rely on a steady, reliable power supply.