By JEN BAYLON
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. encourages stakeholders to invest in energy infrastructure projects to meet surging long-term power demands in Negros and Panay.
“I encourage private generators to invest in the Negros and Panay sub-grids so that the region can meet its energy demands and ensure self-sufficiency in the long run,” Marcos said during the ceremonial energization of the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) 230-kilovolt (kV) Backbone Project sub-grids at the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) compound in Bacolod City’s Barangay Mansilingan yesterday.
“I implore all stakeholders in the Visayas to strategically identify suitable locations and host new baseload generation plants, as well as renewable energy and energy storage systems. This will bolster energy sufficiency and sustainability in Negros and Panay Islands,” he said.
Marcos also urged the national government agencies and local government units, as well as the private sectors to expedite permit issuance for energy projects and to facilitate right-of-way acquisitions for transmission lines and distribution systems.
The President said the CNP project completion is a milestone in the country’s pursuit to enhance energy resilience and reliability.
“It resolves the power supply challenges that have plagued the Negros and Panay sub-grids, which have caused serious regional economic setbacks,” Marcos said.
He added that the backbone project will also enhance the socioeconomic development in Western and Central Visayas.
“The contribution of the two regions to our economy was a robust P2.24 trillion in 2022,” Marcos said.
“As their population and economy expand, their power supply must too,” Marcos said, adding that no region could be an economic powerhouse without a stable power supply.
The CNP 230-kV Backbone Project will strengthen the power grid, improve transmission and will allow increased transfer capacity on Cebu, Negros and Panay islands.
Aside from the ceremonial energization, Marcos also conducted aerial and site inspections of the Bacolod-Gahit Transmission Line and the Bacolod substation.
Earlier, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that the CNP Backbone Project will be a big help towards power stability.
“With the completion of a major transmission line, we can expect lesser brownouts,” Lacson said.
“Stable power generates development,” he added.
Lacson said more transmission lines will be constructed in the future, as more power generation may be needed.
“We will continue to welcome new renewable power generators in the province,” he said.
The CNP Phase 3 Project, the development of six new 230-kV substations with an overall capacity of 3,800 mega volt-amperes, will accommodate additional power generation./JB, WDJ