Over P18 billion NGCP projects up for completion in 2026

February 13, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is advancing seven transmission projects totaling P18.5 billion this year to expand and upgrade the country’s electrical superhighway.

The NGCP plans to energize the P1.9-billion Amlan-Dumaguete 138-kilovolt line in Negros Oriental, the P2.4-billion Tuguegarao-Lal-lo 230-kV line in Cagayan, the P8.1-billion Tuy 500/230-kV substation stage 1 in Batangas and the P4.2-billion Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay 138-kV line in Aklan.

Also slated for completion are the P757.98-million Tacurong-Kalamansig 69-kV line in Sultan Kudarat and the P1.02-billion Visayas Substation Reliability Project Stage 2, along with the P123.84-million steel pole relocation along the Hermosa-Duhat 230-kV line in Bataan.

These projects are expected to address load growth, improve system reliability and complement the entry of new power-generating plants, especially intermittent sources.

Despite ongoing challenges related to right-of-way and permitting, NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza said the grid operator remains committed to moving the projects forward.

“(We) are optimistic about completing these projects within the year,” Alabanza said in a press briefing yesterday.

Last year, the NGCP upgraded and expanded 14 substations to further enhance the reliability and stability of the state-owned power grid.

The improvements included key electrical infrastructure projects in Zambales, Samar, Davao and Iloilo.

The country’s sole transmission operator also renewed its call for stronger government support to accelerate the approval and issuance of the necessary permits for critical grid projects.

“We continue to seek the support of government agencies and LGUs (local government units) by ensuring the expedited release of permits related to our projects. Their assistance is vital to ensuring unhampered project implementation,” Alabanza said.

Further, Alabanza said the NGCP is currently reviewing the decision of the Energy Regulatory Commission regarding its fifth regulatory period rate reset.

The ERC has permitted the NGCP to collect about P374.98 billion in revenues from 2023 to 2027, which is 15.28 percent lower than its application of P442.6 billion.

As a highly regulated entity, the NGCP undergoes a rate reset process to determine how much it can charge power consumers over a five-year period, unless extended by the ERC.