Aklan power line reconnection completed ahead of schedule

MANILA, Philippines — The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has finished repairing the Unidos-Caticlan 69-kiloVolt (kV) line, restoring power and normalizing transmission services in parts of Aklan ahead of the target schedule.

Linemen finished restoring power on Feb. 13, which was ahead of the deadline set next month.

Transmission services for the Aklan Electric Cooperative Inc. (Akelco)’s Caticlan and Boracay substations have returned to their regular configurations following the reconnection and energization of the new Caticlan 69kV XLPE underground cable.

The NGCP pulled out linemen from other parts of the Visayas and Southern Tagalog, and deployed them to Aklan to help fast-track power restoration.

The early completion was achieved amid difficulties experienced by linemen as the Unidos-Caticlan line runs through a mountainous terrain.

Bad weather conditions brought by Tropical Storm Basyang also interrupted the rehabilitation.

Despite the constraints, the project was completed safely and efficiently ahead of the ASEAN Summit activities this March in Boracay, and the summer peak season, the NGCP said.