Energizing Visayas’ progress

TOWARD alleviating the long-standing power supply issues in the Visayas, particularly on Panay Island, the energization of the Cebu-Negros-Panay (CNP) sub-grids is most welcome. It is a leap towards energy sufficiency and underscores the nation’s resolve to bolster regional economies through power infrastructural development.

The CNP 230-kV Backbone Project, a P67.9-billion initiative, aims to strengthen the power transmission grid across the islands of Cebu, Negros, and Panay. It is a vision realized, facilitating increased power transfer capacities and supporting the development of new power generation facilities. By addressing the crucial need for reliable power supply, this project sets a precedent for future energy solutions.

Further, President Marcos’ call for private generators to invest in the Negros and Panay sub-grids highlights the necessity of collaborative efforts in meeting the burgeoning energy demands of these regions and securing energy self-sufficiency in the long run. The emphasis on incorporating renewable energy sources and storage systems further illuminates the pathway towards a sustainable energy future for the Visayas and beyond.

However, the CNP project’s success and the envisioned expansion of the region’s energy infrastructure hinge on overcoming bureaucratic hurdles and fostering cooperation among government agencies, local government units, and private landowners. Expedited permit issuance and the facilitation of rights-of-way for transmission lines are important steps that must be taken to ensure the project’s objectives are met without undue delay.

The completion of the CNP project, as underscored by President Marcos, is not just a milestone for the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). It also gives hope for the regions of Western and Central Visayas. With a combined contribution of a robust P2.24 trillion to the national economy in 2022, the economic vitality of these regions is indisputable. Yet, this vitality can only be sustained and nurtured through a reliable and expanding power supply, an endeavor that the CNP project has set in motion.

Energy sufficiency propels economic growth.