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Group notes that damaged transmission lines caused province-wide blackouts following typhoons
November 14, 2025 – The Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy (PARE) has called on the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to shape up and improve its transmission facilities after its fallen lines and towers were the cause of massive blackouts in areas affected by recent typhoons.
"When Typhoon Uwan struck, NGCP reported that thirty-six transmission lines in Luzon and Visayas became unavailable, instantly taking entire provinces offline. While local electric cooperatives raced to explain and restore neighborhood-level connections, most brownouts were triggered not by the cooperatives but by damaged NGCP lines. Yet the burden and customer anger fell on the electric cooperatives, creating confusion and a misplaced sense of frustration," Nic Satur Jr., Chief Advocate Officer of PARE, said in a statement on November 13, 2025.
NGCP is responsible for operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s critical transmission backbone. Yet progress has been slow, with repeated project delays and unfinished projects, often attributed to right-of-way issues, regulatory hurdles, or procurement problems.
"Numerous vital projects, such as new substations and extra-high-voltage transmission lines in Luzon, Cebu, the Visayas, and Mindanao, remain incomplete, exposing communities to heightened outage risks whenever a storm hits," Satur said.
In the Transmission Development Plan 2025 to 2050, NGCP promises to invest over P1 trillion over the next fifteen years.
"But recent disasters show that these projects urgently need fast-tracking and public accountability, not just long-term visions and paperwork," Satur said.
PARE notes that amid project delays, NGCP has raised its transmission charges, which are passed on to consumers.
"This November, transmission rates saw a sharp increase of almost 8 percent, with average rates reaching P1 and P0.50 per kilowatt-hour, and ancillary services rates climbing by over 15 percent compared to the previous month," Satur said.
However, Satur said that for consumers, the result is higher monthly bills, without assurance of grid reliability or faster power restoration in the next calamity.
"PARE urges NGCP to honor every commitment. The corporation must urgently complete critical substations, backbone transmission lines, and modern grid management systems before the next typhoon, earthquake, or extreme weather disaster," Satur said.
He said NGCP is accountable to the public for every peso charged and every day of project delay.
PARE called on the Energy Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy to strengthen its oversight to ensure that cost increases translate into genuinely improved service and disaster resilience, not just upward adjustments in monthly bills.
"PARE has appealed for climate-proofing our sector for years. The Philippines is always at risk of typhoons and disasters, yet major power companies and regulatory agencies continue to invest reactively rather than proactively," Satur said.
He added that before the next super typhoon or major earthquake arrives, the sector must prioritize modernization, bury transmission lines in critical areas, and develop coordinated, disaster-proofing strategies.
"The time is now for NGCP to step up. Fast, transparent grid upgrades will save lives, reduce economic losses, and secure the affordable, reliable power every Filipino deserves," Satur said.
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Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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