2 more NGCP steel towers bombed in Lanao, North Cotabato

COTABATO CITY - The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has reiterated its appeal to power consumers, local officials and residents to help secure steel towers near themas lawless elements continue attacking the power facilities.The latest twin bombings took place in Barangay Gandamatu, Ramain, Lanao del Sur on Christmas Eve.Melfrance Bambi Capulong, speaking for the NGCP, said lawless elements first bombed NGCP tower No. 25 in Barnagay Gandamtu, Ramain town at 10:47 p.m. The steel structure carries the NGCP's Agus-2138 KV line.About 15minutes later, at approximately 11 p.m. NGCP tower No. 95 located in the vicinity of BarangayAroman, Carmen, North Cotabato was bombed.Capulong said tower No. 95 carries theNGCP's Kibawe - Kabacan 138 KV lines 1 and2. The tower was damaged but did not topple. These arethe 14th and 15th towers to be attacked this year. The toppling of Tower 25 led to the isolation of government owned generating facilities, namely the Agus 1 andamp 2 Hydro Electric Plants. As a result, 58MW was lost from the grid, aggravating the existing power shortage in Mindanao, she said.According to Capulong, NGCP field are on field even on Christmas Day to do the restoration efforts but had to wait clearance from military and police authorities for security reasons. NGCP is calling on the public to report any suspicious activities at or around its facilities, to prevent further bombing-related power interruptions, she appealed.