Power grid upgrades to ease outages

Electricity consumers may see fewer outages and steadier supply as the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) races to complete seven major transmission projects worth more than P18 billion.

In a report on Thursday, the transmission operator said projects include the Amlan-Dumaguete 138kV line costing P1.9 billion, the Tuguegarao-Lal-lo Magapit 230kV line at P2.4 billion, and the Tuy 500/230kV Substation Stage 1 and Tuy-Dasmariñas 500kV line component for P8.1 billion. 

Other projects are the Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay 138kV line valued at P4.2 billion and the Tacurong-Kalamansig 69kV line at P757.98 million.

NGCP will also complete Stage 2 of its Visayas Substation Reliability project for P1.02 billion and relocate steel poles along the Hermosa-Duhat 230kV line at P123.84 million.

“These projects will address economic drivers such as load growth, system reliability and security, power quality and technology, entry of new generating plants (both renewable and non-renewable), as well as complement major projects such as power grid backbones and island interconnections,” NGCP said.

The company has already made significant strides in improving the grid. In 2025, NGCP upgraded and expanded 14 substations, boosting transformer capacities across key locations—including Castillejos, Calaca, Concepcion, Davao, and Iloilo—and completed voltage improvements in several other stations such as Tigaon, Malvar, Baybay, Sta. Barbara, and Zamboanga.

Despite ongoing challenges with right-of-way and permitting, the company said it will continue to deliver the committed projects within the year.

To keep the projects on track, the company called for continued government support. 

“We continue to seek the support of government agencies and LGUs by ensuring the expedited release of permits related to our projects. Their assistance is vital to ensuring unhampered project implementation,” NGCP said.