Brownout for three days in a row now in Northern Samar. A ray of hope looms in the future still though. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vowed to end the perennial brownout problem in Northern Samar. The President on a visit to the province to inaugurate the Las Navas Bridge bared plans for the upgrading of the transmission lines through the 138 KV Wright-Calbayog backbone transmission system to accommodate the load growth, address the low voltage problem, and improve system reliability.
At present, Northern Samar's existing supply line is a 69 KV wood pole base system. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has started to bid out the transmission line component of the Wright-Calbayog transmission line on June 4. T8he timetable for the completion of the Wright-Calbayog transmission line will be on the fourth quarter of 2010.
When completed, the perennial power interruptions in Northern Samar will not be totally be avoided but will be significantly reduce by 30 to 60 percent.
Another project on the way is the upgrading of the transmission line from Calbayog-Lope de Vega to Catarman which is yet to be approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also ordered the energy department to prioritize the electrification of the municipality of Silvino Lobos.
“Northern Samar is a focus for our infrastructure development efforts and the patience of the people of this region will be rewarded with increased power supplies as soon as these projects come on stream,” the President said.
