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National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Almeda has clarified that he never meant to blame the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) for the power woes on Siargao Island.

Almeda gave this statement during the recent briefing of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, which was attended by NGCP officials.

"I just would like to confirm and I would like to take this opportunity to thank NGCP in the assistance given to SIARELCO. I didn’t mean to impute the fault to NGCP as I have mentioned it was operated and owned by SIARELCO, the submarine cable that is not functioning," the NEA chief said in front of solons last Monday, Dec. 23.

SIARELCO stands for Siargao Electric Cooperative, Inc. The recent 13-day power outage on Siargao Island--a tourist hotspot--was reportedly triggered by the submarine cable issue.

“NGCP, for its part, sent equipment and two metering and testing teams, plus nine personnel. NGCP tried to do its part for SIARELCO over and beyond our mandate,” Cynthia Alabanza, NGCP assistant vice president and head of the public relations department, told the committee.

Alabanza also mentioned that NGCP--the country’s grid operator--had already filed an application for an interconnection project, but it has yet to receive approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

The ERC confirmed the project application, but the review was put on hold due to a design amendment. 

“We’re targeting all pending with us in the 1st quarter of 2025,” ERC chairperson Mona Lisa Dimalanta said in the same briefing.

While NGCP is theoretically ready to start the project, Alabanza highlighted the challenges posed by a Supreme Court (SC) ruling that prohibits NGCP from commencing projects without prior ERC approval.

Committee chairman, Paran̈aque City 2nd district Rep. Gus Tambunting called on NGCP to look into this matter. He said a major tourist destination such as Siargao needs a steady supply of electricity.