NGCP Pushes Major Transmission Upgrades To Support Rising Power Demand

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is set to energize at least seven major transmission projects worth between ₱17.3 billion and ₱18.5 billion within the year, as it pushes to strengthen grid stability, support load growth, and integrate new power generation capacity across the country.

NGCP said the projects involve key transmission lines and substations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, aimed at addressing rising electricity demand, improving system reliability and security, and enhancing power quality.

Major Transmission Lines

Among the projects targeted for completion is the ₱8.1-billion Tuy 500/230-kilovolt (kV) Substation Stage 1, a component of the Tuy-Dasmariñas 500kV transmission line linking Batangas and Cavite. The facility is intended to accommodate a coal-fired power plant and boost the dispatch of generation capacity in Batangas province.

In Northern Luzon, NGCP expects to complete the ₱2.4-billion Tuguegarao-Lal-lo (Magapit) 230kV transmission line. The project is designed to provide relief to anticipated load growth in the northern part of Cagayan province.

For Western Visayas, the grid operator is set to energize the ₱4.2-billion Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay 138kV transmission line, which will support increasing power demand in Boracay Island and the Caticlan area.

In Negros Oriental, the ₱1.9-billion Amlan-Dumaguete 138kV transmission line is expected to enhance grid reliability in Southern Negros. NGCP is also targeting completion of the ₱757.98-million Tacurong-Kalamansig 69kV transmission line in Sultan Kudarat.

In addition, the company plans to finish Stage 2 of its Visayas Substation Reliability Project, valued at about ₱1.02 billion, to address overloading concerns during outages. The relocation of steel poles along the Hermosa-Duhat 230kV transmission line, costing ₱123.84 million, is likewise scheduled for completion within the year.

Supporting Grid Expansion

NGCP said the seven projects are designed to address key economic drivers such as load growth, system reliability and security, power quality and technology improvements, and the integration of new generating plants, both renewable and non-renewable.

The projects are also expected to complement broader initiatives, including grid backbone developments and island interconnections.

“We take our obligations under our franchise and concession agreement seriously. Despite continuing challenges in right-of-way and permitting, we remain committed to the work ahead, and are optimistic in completing these projects within the year,” NGCP said in a statement.

NGCP Assistant Vice President Cynthia Alabanza reiterated the company’s commitment to completing the projects on schedule despite right-of-way and permitting challenges.

Substation Upgrades

Apart from the new transmission projects, NGCP reported that it completed the upgrading and expansion of 14 substations in 2025 to further enhance grid reliability and stability.

These include the installation of a 1,000-megavolt-ampere (MVA) transformer at the Castillejos Substation; new 300MVA transformers at the Calaca and Concepcion Substations; and 100MVA transformers at the Corella, Toril, Pitogo, Maramag, Dingle, Calbayog, and Paranas Substations.

The Davao Substation received a 150MVA transformer, while the San Jose and Mabinay Substations were upgraded with 50MVA transformers. A 100MVA expansion at the Iloilo Substation, part of the Panay-Guimaras Interconnection Project, was completed in April 2025.

Voltage improvement initiatives were also carried out at the Tigaon, Malvar, Baybay Load-end Station, Sta. Barbara, and Zamboanga Substations.

Call For Government Support

NGCP renewed its appeal to the Department of Energy, other government agencies, and local government units (LGUs) to expedite the approval and release of permits necessary for the implementation of critical transmission projects.

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

The company said these efforts reflect its continuing mandate to deliver safe, secure, and reliable power transmission services nationwide.

Source:

https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-news/2026/02/13/2507777/ngcp-energize-major-lines-year

https://business.inquirer.net/573849/ngcp-to-complete-7-major-projects-in-2026

https://insiderph.com/ngcp-targets-p173-b-transmission-rollout-in-2026