Bizmen want ‘status quo’ on transfer of NGCP lines
ITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Stakeholders represented by landowners and businessmen want a “status quo” on the relocation of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’(NGCP) high-voltage transmission lines inside their respective property lines along Jose Abad Santos Avenue in this city.
In a meeting held at Carworld Pampanga yesterday, Marco Hizon, who represented Hizon Group of Companies voiced out his concern over the possible impacts and hazards once the relocation of the Hermosa-Duhat transmission line is implemented.
“We are not agreeing with the relocation primarily because of its potential health risks. We are talking about 230 kilovolt here and it is a given fact that high exposure to electric and magnetic fields (EMF) have an adverse effect on our health,” he said.
Engineer Art Crespo of the Panlilio of Group of Companies also shared the same sentiment, as he noted that
the giant steel posts might also pose threats of future disturbance for their tenants.
“Aside from its health and safety hazards, we are objecting the relocation of the transmission lines because we only have a minimal frontage area and if they will get another chunk inside our property, mawawalan na kami ng space. We also fear that it will affect the day-to-day operations of our tenants,” he lamented.
Hizon noted that involved stakeholders will initiate a meeting with the NGCP and the City Government of San Fernando to clarify and settle the issue.
“Within this week, we will send a formal letter and invite them to meet with us to discuss our concerns,” he relayed.
He then suggested that the power transmission firm should further study the relocation project and asses its negative effects on the lives of the stakeholders in the business district and the community.
“The NGCP should take a closer look on this issue. They have to study it further. One option is to install the posts at the city’s centerline instead of the private properties. While it may be aesthetically disruptive, I believe it’s more viable, costeffective and more importantly, won’t be near us,” he noted.
Moreover, some of the stakeholders proposed that the steel posts be relocated to a less-populated open area like farm lots, while some mentioned the common practice of underground electric transmission lines and the consideration of double-circuiting an existing line rather than building a new line.
Hizon noted that the NGCP should consider other alternatives or maintain status quo.
“Status quo na lang muna. And if the NGCP continue to push through with the project despite our opposition, we are going to file an injunction and settle the issue in court,” he said.
Just recently, NGCP announced that the relocation project will be implemented starting this month despite the resistance of various stakeholders, in the interest of public welfare and safety.
In a recent statement to Sun.Star Pampanga, the NGCP said it will start relocating the HermosaDuhat 230kV transmission line along Jose Abad Santos Avenue here this February 2018 despite unresolved right-of-way concerns.
NGCP Regional Communications and Public Affairs Officer Ernest Lorenz B. Vidal disclosed the relocation of the transmission line will address the traffic and public safety hazards posed by power structures located by the roadside.
Vidal disclosed that seven of 18 affected land owners have yet to cooperate with the relocation pr oject .
The NGCP informed the City Government of San Fernando in September 2017 of its intention to immediately mobilize for the relocation. The relocation, however, was postponed due to resistance from the land owners.
“We are appealing to the seven remaining landowners to cooperate, and the city government to assist NGCP in the immediate completion of the project. Public safety is NGCP’s utmost priority as a nation builder,” NGCP said in its statement.
Vidal furthered that in a recent meeting, City of San Fernando Mayor Edwin D. Santiago committed to assist NGCP in securing the seven land owners’ support to the project.
As early as 2016, NGCP has been in talks with stakeholders such as the City Government of San Fernando, Department of Public Works and Highways Region III, and the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. to find an amenable solution to relocation concerns.
Vidal in the statement noted the NGCP indicated its readiness to begin relocating as early as the first quarter of 2017, but could not proceed because of landowner demands.
He said that with the immediate cooperation of the remaining seven land owners, NGCP is optimistic that the project will finally be completed this year.
The bored piling and pole erection, and the transmission line stringing are estimated for completion within 120 and 180 calendar days, respectively.