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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider ERC grants NGCP extension on ₱1.9-billion Negros power line project

ERC grants NGCP extension on ₱1.9-billion Negros power line project

Published Aug 25, 2026 03:30 pm
High-voltage transmission towers stand across the horizon in Pampanga on Wednesday, May 13. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines placed the Visayas grid under yellow alert status this week following the unplanned shutdown of three power plants. The central islands remain vulnerable to supply fluctuations as the region relies heavily on power imports from Luzon and Mindanao to meet surging seasonal demand. (Photo by Santi San Juan | Manila Bulletin)
High-voltage transmission towers stand across the horizon in Pampanga on Wednesday, May 13. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines placed the Visayas grid under yellow alert status this week following the unplanned shutdown of three power plants. The central islands remain vulnerable to supply fluctuations as the region relies heavily on power imports from Luzon and Mindanao to meet surging seasonal demand. (Photo by Santi San Juan | Manila Bulletin)
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has extended the deadline for the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to complete a ₱1.89-billion transmission line project in Southern Negros.
In a Commission Order, the ERC approved a revised completion target of March 31, 2027, for the Amlan-Dumaguete transmission project, pushing it back from its original September 2024 target. The 138-kilovolt project was roughly 64.38 percent complete as of February 2026.
Once finished, the project will allow generation companies to connect to the grid, boosting reliability and service efficiency for local power distributors. This is expected to ease power strains in the region—a critical move after the Visayas grid logged 107 grid alerts (including 86 yellow alerts) since the start of the year.
“NGCP argued that its proposed timelines and ETC (estimated time of completion) only take into account a ‘best case scenario’, and are not meant to be hard deadlines or firm commitments,” the ERC stated.
The NGCP emphasized that the initial timeline did not account for potential roadblocks, construction difficulties, or legal impediments. Delays were also caused by opposition from an affected landowner.
Beyond this project, the NGCP is tasked with resolving recurring power interruptions during single-contingency events along the existing Amlan-Siaton 69kV line. The ERC advised the grid operator that early construction of the proposed Siaton-Bayawan 138kV line will only be allowed if granted a Certificate of Energy Project of National Significance (CEPNS) from the Department of Energy.
A CEPNS fast-tracks permitting, regulatory, and implementation processes for projects deemed vital for national security, economic growth, or grid stability, enabling early activities to prevent further delays.
While acknowledging that the Amlan-Dumaguete project alone will not fully resolve Southern Negros' grid vulnerabilities, the ERC emphasized that the NGCP retains sole discretion over when to pursue the Siaton-Bayawan line, provided temporary safeguards remain in place to manage N-1 outage risks.

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