ILIGAN CITY – A tower of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Poona, Tangcal, Lanao del Norte, may have been intentionally toppled due to pilferage of transmission line parts, and this had caused widespread power interruption in parts of Zamboanga Peninsula, Misamis Oriental and Lanao del Norte on Monday, January 18.
According to NGCP, the alleged sabotage at tower 60 in the Balo-i-Aurora 138kV line occurred at around 10:13 a.m., Monday, that immediately caused load dropping in at least five electric cooperatives starting at 10:17 a.m.
NGCP officials are now working with authorities to secure the area, and to identify the perpetrators of the sabotage.
Restoration of tower 60 will commence as soon as the area is secured.
The company stressed that any form of sabotage on transmission lines and structures only serve to increase the burden of the public, which has to suffer through service interruptions when towers are sabotaged.
NGCP continued its appeal to the public, local and national government, and local community leaders to help identify the perpetrators of the sabotage, and prevent power interruptions.