CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is ramping up infrastructure upgrades and long-term planning efforts to meet the growing electricity demand in Central Luzon.
This was emphasized during a Power 101 Seminar organized by the NGCP for media practitioners from Pampanga and Tarlac, which aims to enhance public understanding of the country’s power transmission system and highlight ongoing energy projects in the region.
NGCP Northern Luzon Operations and Maintenance District 6 Senior Manager Engr. Alvin Estaliao led the technical discussions, explaining the role of NGCP as the country’s transmission service provider.
He noted that the company’s mandate is to transmit high-voltage electricity from power generation facilities to distribution utilities, electric cooperatives, and large industrial customers. NGCP neither generates nor distributes power.
To provide context, the seminar also revisited the transformation of the power sector following the passage of Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), which unbundled the industry into four components—generation, transmission, distribution, and supply.
As of December 31, 2024, NGCP manages 23,109.94 circuit-kilometers of transmission lines and 58,653.40 megavolt-amperes (MVA) of substation capacity nationwide. Since assuming operations in 2009, it has invested nearly ₱395 billion in power infrastructure.
In Central Luzon, NGCP is implementing several key projects, including the construction of the San Simon 230-kilovolt (kV) Substation.
This facility is expected to decongest the existing Mexico Substation and enhance connectivity to the Bataan generation hub, further strengthening the region’s grid capacity and reliability.
During the open forum, NGCP spokesperson Atty. Cynthia P. Alabanza underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration to ensure effective energy planning and delivery of electricity services.
“It really needs a multi-sectoral, multi-government agency approach. It can’t just be NGCP—not just the generators, not just the distributors. Everyone must do their part,” Alabanza said.
She emphasized the need to align the Transmission Development Plan (TDP) with the government’s broader Power Development Plan (PDP), to ensure that infrastructure projects are responsive to the country’s evolving energy landscape.
“The TDP should form part of the bigger Power Development Plan. You can’t just build the roads without knowing what you’re transporting. That’s why we keep encouraging better coordination. If we all sing in different tones, the customers will hear the dissonance,” she explained.
Alabanza also confirmed that stakeholder consultations for the 2025–2050 Transmission Development Plan were concluded in May 2024.
The updated plan will reflect developments such as the growth of offshore wind energy and other emerging technologies.
NGCP reiterated its commitment to continuously upgrade power infrastructure, improve stakeholder coordination, and maintain a stable and reliable transmission network nationwide. (MJSC/MAGP, PIA Region 3- Pampanga GIP)