The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has told Malacanang that it has dropped its plan to expropriate the 6-hectare property of the Social Security System to build a substation in Pasay City. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said NGCP officials disclosed this during their meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte to discuss how to minimize brownouts.
“The President did raise the issue of an SSS property of around six hectares in Pasay which was expropriated by NGCP and I confirm that the officials of the NGCP could not justify why they went for expropriating six hectares land when all they needed was 2,000 (square meters). But they (NGCP) apparently give the President an assurance that they will not proceed with that particular expropriation in Pasay,” said Roque who cited Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra as his source.
The SSS successfully obtained an order from the Supreme Court blocking the Pasay City court’s order granting NGCP possession of the contested property four years ago.
In the same meeting, NGCP officials assured the President that they would address his concerns about rotational brownouts plaguing the country.
NGCP reiterated that the problem was a supply issue and that its ancillary authority to purchase power was only meant to provide stability in the power grid.
While Energy Secretary Al Cusi has threatened to strip NGCP’s concession, Roque said the private firm has stressed that “its legal authority to purchase power is not to provide further supply, it is only to promote stability of the grid.”
