The Regional Trial Court in Pasay ruled that as part of its Transmission Development Plan, the National Grid Corporation’s 230-kiloVolt (kV) Substation project was built to strengthen grid facilities in Metro Manila by providing long-term solution to increase demand for power and effectively distribute the existing load of transmission facilities serving Meralco. This will also improve the grid's resiliency by providing N-1 contingency or back-up facility required to prevent outages when other equipment are not available or on scheduled maintenance shutdown.
The RTC decision directed the Social Security System to vacate a portion of its property in Pasay City for NGCP’s power project.
“The proposed Pasay substation is a critical infrastructure project that will support the growth, development and energy security of the Western part of Metro Manila."
As transmission service provider and concessionaire for the power backbone, NGCP is expropriating on behalf of government.
“All transmission facilities we will be building during our concession are deemed for public use, and will eventually be turned over to government at the end of the concession period," the company explained.
NGCP is planning to construct on the said property a 230-kv substation project aimed at improving its present and future power quality and system reliability, serving the area and neighboring zones. The project includes a provision to connect the Pasay Substation directly to a Substation in Bataan via a high-voltage submarine cable, making the property's location ideal.
It said that it will comply with orders of the courts including just compensation to SSS once it is determined, in accordance with the existing laws.
The property is located along Diokno Avenue in Pasay City.