NGCP turns over housing for Valenzuela City residents
Five buildings were completed in October and formally turned over in a simple ceremony at the Disiplina Village
On 15 October, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), together with Gawad Kalinga, formally turned over to the Valenzuela City Government the first batch of low-rise dwellings in Disiplina Village in Barangay Lingunan, a joint in-city housing project for informal settler families.
As the power grid operator, NGCP worked with the City of Valenzuela to relocate residents previously living within the transmission right-of-way corridor to prevent any accidents from happening due to their proximity to the high-voltage power lines. This is also in line with Republic Act 11361, or the Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act, which aims to ensure the uninterrupted flow of power by prohibiting construction of structures and conducting any activity within or along the power line corridor.
Back in February 2019, NGCP, the Valenzuela City LGU, and Gawad Kalinga broke ground on the city government’s 2.5-hectare property for the establishment of the in-city relocation site. The entire housing project, which costs over P282 million, is comprised of 22 three-story low-rise buildings with 792 units, and is scheduled for completion by 2021.
Five buildings were completed in October and formally turned over in a simple ceremony at the Disiplina Village, attended by representatives from NGCP led by vice president and head of Central Projects Office Mark Joseph Andeo, Gawad Kalinga led by Executive Director Daniel Bercasio, and Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian. Rep. Wes Gatchalian and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Eduardo del Rosario were also among the guests.
“NGCP and the City of Valenzuela, together with Gawad Kalinga, worked hand-in-hand to give residents of the city a safer living environment, away from the dangers posed by living near or under high-voltage transmission lines. Disiplina Village is the product of collaborative efforts to serve the community in order to protect them and give them a safer place to live in,” NGCP said.
Under prevailing laws, the abatement of nuisances per se, such as buildings and structures underneath transmission lines, is primarily the obligation of the local government.
“NGCP extended its help and its resources to Valenzuela City to expedite the relocation. We felt that if our help was needed to make things happen and ensure the safety of the residents, we had to find a way to get this done,” the company said. “Hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon, iaasa natin sa gobyerno ang lahat ng kilos. (We cannot depend all our actions on the government at all times.) It’s simple good corporate citizenship.”
The five newly-constructed buildings, with a total of 180 units, will be given to residents of Barangays Mapulang Lupa and Ugong who previously resided along the transmission line corridor of NGCP’s San Jose-Quezon 230kV Line.
NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately-owned company in charge of operating, maintaining and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders and vice chairman of the Board Henry Sy Jr. and co-vice chair Robert Coyiuto Jr.