NGCP creates bypass line to restore power in parts of quake-hit Visayas

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines on Saturday said it is creating a bypass line to supply power to parts of Visayas that are suffering from total loss of electricity after a magnitude-6.5 earthquake hit Jaro, Leyte on Thursday afternoon.

"NGCP is presently creating a bypass line to connect the Tabango Substation to Ormoc Substation," the NGCP said in an advisory.

"Once the connection is established, power from Cebu will be able to flow to Ormoc substation, and power will be restored in Bohol, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, and Samar," NGCP noted.

The NGCP added that the connection of the two substations will be completed within two to three days.

It also took note that the there is still  complete loss of power in Bohol and Samar islands, Biliran, Southern Leyte, and parts of Leyte.

"Due to supply deficiency caused by the outage of power plants located in Leyte, customers in Cebu, Negros, and Panay may also suffer occasional power interruptions," it said.

Also, the NGCP said that is 138 kilovolt Ormoc-Tongonan Line, which tilted during the earthquake, has been reinforced and is ready to be energized as soon as supply from the Energy Development Corp. (EDC) becomes available.

EDC's Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plants – which generate over 500 megawatts – tripped during the quake.

Once the line is energized, power will be restored in Ormoc, Leyte, according to the NGCP.

"NGCP's Cebu-Leyte submarine cable and its Tabango Substation in Leyte continues to transmit power to LEYECO V, serving the municipalities of Kananga, Tabango, San Isidro, Villaba, Calubian, Matag-ob, and Leyte," it said. —John Ted Cordero/LBG, GMA News