NGCP seeks extended TRO

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) is seeking a longer temporary retraining order (TRO) on a former Tuguegarao City mayor for obstructing a major transmission project in northern Luzon.

A 72- hour TRO was issued to Deltra Multi Corp., represented by its president, Delfin Ting, last Feb. 16 for excessive excavation of the lot where Structures 39 and 40 of the Tuguegarao-Magapit 69kV transmission line stand.

This allowed NGCP personnel to enter the property to inspect and do corrective works on the structures after Ting— former mayor of Tuguegarao City— refused the grid operator entry to conduct much needed inspection and line maintenance.

Ting excavated the land to develop his property, which puts the transmission facilities in a very vulnerable position.

Despite the inherent dangers an excavation of that nature would present to the transmission facilities, Deltra Multi continued to develop the property, leaving Structures 39 and 40 standing precariously on an unreinforced spot of soil 40-feet high.

“Our facilities should not be put in vulnerable situations. The development in the lot of Mr. Ting is clearly a violation of transmission line right-of-way clearances. By putting Structure Nos. 39 and 40 at risk, Mr. Ting is also jeopardizing the Tuguegarao-Magapit 69kV line serving major parts of Cagelco I and entire Cagelco II franchise areas, which are Cagayan and Apayao provinces,” the grid operator said.