TACLOBAN CITY-Eastern Samar Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales said efforts are underway to fast-track the construction of a new 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission line aimed at addressing persistent power shortages and frequent brownouts in several towns in the province.
Gonzales said he recently met with National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda and Acting Deputy Administrator Raymond Napilot to ensure the swift implementation of the power project.
“The goal is to make sure that the construction of the new 69kV line is implemented without delay to respond to the power deficiency being experienced by several municipalities in Eastern Samar,” Gonzales said in a statement.
He said the project is the result of sustained efforts in coordination with House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino ‘Nonoy’ Libanan, noting that it seeks to address long-standing complaints from residents who have endured near-daily power interruptions for more than a decade.
“These frequent brownouts have severely affected households and local businesses, and it is time to put an end to this long-standing problem,” the lawmaker said.
Aside from the new transmission line, Gonzales said discussions with NEA also covered measures to strengthen and stabilize the province’s overall power supply.
Among the proposed projects are the construction of a 69kV line from Taft to Jipapad, the establishment of a 10-megavolt-ampere (MVA) substation in Oras town, and the rehabilitation of the 138kV Paranas–Taft transmission line of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), including the construction of a substation in Taft.
Gonzales stressed that the planned power infrastructure projects are not only meant to reduce brownouts but are also crucial to the province’s economic growth.
“With a reliable electricity supply, we can attract more investors into Eastern Samar and create more opportunities for our people,” he said.
The lawmaker assured that he will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the projects to ensure they deliver long-term benefits to every Eastern Samareño.
(JOEY A. GABIETA, LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
