DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 28 Dec) – The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP)’s Tower 4 of Baloi-Agus 2 in Lanao del Norte was bombed by unknown suspects on Monday morning, the fourth incident since the December 24 bombing of its two towers in Lanao del Sur and North Cotabato.
In her Facebook post, NGCP Mindanao spokesperson Bambie Capulong said based on reports, four more will be bombed by lawless elements during the holiday season.
“NGCP warns that if unabated, further bombing incidents may prevent customers from enjoying uninterrupted electricity during the holidays,” she said.
Although not completely damaged, she said the NGCP will still work on the restoration of the 138-kilovolt line tower, located in Nangka, Baloi in Lanao del Norte, as long as the area is secured.
“NGCP appeals to the public, the national and local government, and the Philippine Army for assistance in resolving security issues,” she said,
Capulong also announced that Tower 95 in Barangay Aroman, Carmen in North Cotabato, one of the two towers bombed on Christmas eve, was completely repaired at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
She then appealed to the government to help assist in putting a stop to attacks on NGCP towers.
“NGCP likewise appeals to the public to report any suspicious activities at or near its transmission lines to local law enforcement offices to prevent further power outage caused by those attacks,” she added.
Last Thursday, Tower 25, located at Ditsaan-Ramain in Lanao del Sur, was bombed and toppled, which resulted in isolation of government-owned generating facilities, namely, the Agus 1 and 2 hydroelectric plants.
At least 58 megawatts was lost in the Mindanao grid after the incident that further worsened the Mindanao power situation on the island.
The installed capacity of the decades-old Agus-Pulangi Hydropower Complex is 827.2 MW, which supplies more than half of the island’s power source while the rest is a mix of coal, diesel, and geothermal.