BACOLOD CITY — Pinangunahan ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ang sabayang pagbubukas sa P67.98 bilyon Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) 230 kilo volt backbone project ng National Grid Corporation (NGCP) sa Bacolod City na mag-uugnay sa suplay ng kuryente sa Iloilo, Negros Occidental, at Cebu.

Hinikayat ni Pangulong Marcos ang energy stakeholders at private generators na magtayo ng energy infrastructure sa Negros at Panay para matugunan ang long term-term power demands sa rehiyon atnapalakas pa ang development nito.

“While the CNP is a major step forward, 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,” pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos.

“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,” dagdag ng Pangulo.

Pinuri ni Pangulong Marcos ang NGCP sa pagpupursige sa proyekto.

“We must recognize NGCP for the successful completion of this CNP. The completion of this project is a milestone in our pursuit to enhance the resilience and reliability of our power infrastructure, especially in this area,” pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos..

Dahil nakumpleto na ang proyekto, sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos na nasa P2.24 trikyon ang magiging kontribusyon ng Region 6 at 7 sa ekonomiya ng bansa.

“We have taken a big step today when we opened this transmission and distribution network, making this more attractive to other private investors come in to help us with a problem and to bring their own capacities to improve the transmission lines, even the power generation,” pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos.

Sinabi naman ni Cynthia Alabanza, NGCP AVP at Head of Public Relations Department na malaking tulong ito sa resiliency sa Visayas region.

“Pero hindi lang tayo diyan dapat nakasalalay. Kailangan natin ng mas maraming stable power supply in each island para maiwasan na ang blackout,” pahayag ni Alabanza.

Ayon kay Alabanza malaking tulong ang suporta ni Pangulong Marcos.

“This monumental milestone represents a significant step towards ensuring a stable transmission grid in the Philippines, and we are honored to lead and witness its completion. NGCP has consistently worked towards meeting its commitment to provide a reliable electricity infrastructure for the nation, and the CNP is a testament to our dedication to enhancing the power transmission capabilities of our country,” pahayag ni Alabanza.

Nagsagawa rin ng aerial inspection si Pangulong Marcos sa Bacolod-Gahit Transmission Line at site inspection sa Bacolod Substation.

Nakapaloob sa Cebu-Negros-Panay Backbone ang Negros-Panay Interconnection Project Line 2 na binubuo ng tatlong stages kung saan ang pinakahuli ay nakumpleto noong Marso 27, 2024.

Nakatutulong ito sa Amlan-Samboan submarine cable na kasalukuyang ginagamit para sa pagkonekta sa Cebu at Negros islands.

Binubuo ang CNP ng 670 transmission towers na may 442 circuit kilometers ng overhead lines, 98.9 circuit kilometers ng submarine cables na may 10 bagong substations at expansion ng dalawang existing major substations.

Aminado si Alabanza na hindi naging madali ang proyekto dahil sa usapin sa right of way, pagkuha ng permit at iba pa.

“Despite the various challenges surrounding the completion of the CNP, NGCP’s commitment to delivering this important project did not falter. The dedication of our personnel who worked despite security threats, inclement weather conditions and difficult terrain, and the support of concerned government agencies that assisted us were instrumental in driving this project forward,” pahayag ni Alabanza.