NGCP Advances Major Transmission Upgrades To Support Growing Power Demand
- July 24, 2026
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The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is aiming to complete 10 major transmission projects worth a combined ₱30.89 billion before the end of 2025, a move expected to strengthen grid reliability, ease transmission congestion and support the entry of new power generation capacity, including renewable energy projects.
If completed on schedule, the projects will raise NGCP’s total completed transmission projects this year to 15, with a combined investment of about ₱38 billion, following the completion of five projects worth ₱7.19 billion during the first half of the year.
Expanding The Transmission Network
NGCP said the projects lined up for completion in the second half of the year are designed to address increasing electricity demand, improve system reliability and power quality, and facilitate the integration of both renewable and conventional power plants into the national grid.
The projects include the relocation of steel poles along the Hermosa-Duhat 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line, the Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay transmission line, the Luzon Voltage Improvement Project-3, the New Antipolo 230-kV Substation, the North Luzon Substation Upgrading Project 1, the Tuguegarao-Lal-lo (Magapit) 230-kV Transmission Line Project, the Amlan-Dumaguete 138-kV Transmission Line Project, the Panay-Guimaras 138-kV Interconnection Project, the Mindanao Substation Expansion 4 Project, and the Nasipit Substation Bus-in Project.
According to NGCP, the projects will help reduce power congestion while reinforcing interconnections among the country’s major island grids. They also complement larger transmission initiatives that form part of the country’s expanding power infrastructure.
Earlier this year, the transmission operator completed five projects valued at ₱7.19 billion. These include the Visayas Substation Reliability Project, the Laguindingan 230-kV Substation Project, the Visayas 69-kV Transmission Line Upgrading Project, the Nagsaag-Tumana 69-kV Transmission Line Project, and the Tacurong-Kalamansig 69-kV Transmission Line Project.
Strengthening Grid Reliability
NGCP said the transmission upgrades form part of its continuing efforts to ensure a stable and reliable electricity network capable of accommodating additional generating capacity across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The company has also completed major grid integration projects in recent years, including the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project and the Cebu-Negros-Panay Backbone, which helped establish a unified Philippine power grid and improved the transfer of electricity between island groups.
In addition to transmission line projects, NGCP expanded and upgraded 14 substations in 2025 to improve grid stability.
Among the completed upgrades were the installation of a 1,000-megavolt-ampere (MVA) transformer at the Castillejos Substation; new 300-MVA transformers at the Calaca and Concepcion substations; 100-MVA transformers at the Corella, Toril, Pitogo, Maramag, Dingle, Calbayog and Paranas substations; a 150-MVA transformer at the Davao Substation; and 50-MVA transformers at the San Jose and Mabinay substations.
The company also completed a 100-MVA expansion at its Iloilo Substation as part of the Panay-Guimaras Interconnection Project, while voltage improvement initiatives were carried out at the Tigaon, Malvar, Baybay Load-end Station, Sta. Barbara and Zamboanga substations.
Supporting Energy Transition
The transmission investments come as policymakers continue to emphasize the need for a more flexible and modern electricity grid to accommodate the country’s growing renewable energy capacity.
Earlier, Senate President Win Gatchalian urged NGCP to accelerate grid modernization, saying a more efficient transmission system is essential to ensuring stable and affordable electricity while supporting the country’s shift toward renewable energy and electric vehicles.
He said modernized grids can better integrate decentralized energy resources such as rooftop solar installations and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, allowing consumers not only to draw electricity from the grid but also export excess power generated by their own systems.
Such grids can also direct surplus renewable energy generated during peak production hours to large-scale battery storage facilities for later use.
“Sa huli, ito ang susi para maging mas matatag at mas abot-kaya ang suplay ng kuryente (Ultimately, this is the key to making the electricity supply more stable and affordable),” he said.
Permit Support Sought
Despite its ongoing infrastructure rollout, NGCP acknowledged that project implementation continues to face challenges, particularly in securing right-of-way access and obtaining permits.
“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,” the company said.
NGCP also renewed its appeal to the Department of Energy, other concerned government agencies, and local government units to expedite the issuance of permits needed for critical transmission projects.
The company said faster permit processing remains crucial to avoiding construction delays and ensuring the timely completion of infrastructure needed to support rising electricity demand and the country’s continuing energy transition.
Source:
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2026/07/20/ngcp-on-track-to-complete-10-projects-worth-%E2%82%B130-88b
