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Friday, March 29, 2024

NGCP giving P1b to help govt in fighting COVID-19

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Grid operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said it is donating P1 billion to support the government’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

NGCP president and chief executive Anthony Almeda said in a letter to President Rodrigo Duterte through Senator Christopher Lawrence Go dated March 30 the company would donate P500 million in the form of goods and medical equipment and another P500 million in cash for other COVID-19 response purposes.

“On behalf of NGCP’s board of directors, particularly major stockholders Henry Sy Jr., Robert Coyiuto Jr. and the State Grid of China Corp., we would like to inform you that NGCP will donate P1 billion to aid our medical frontliners to support the president’s efforts to combat the outbreak of COVID-19 in the Philippines,” Almeda said in the letter.

He said NGCP would coordinate with the Duterte administration for the turnover of the donation.

“We will also continue to look for opportunities to support the government in battling this pandemic,” Almeda said.

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NGCP, the country’s lone network operator, earlier said its system operations and transmission line and substation personnel all over Luzon continued to operate, maintain and improve the country’s transmission grid amid the enhanced community quarantine.

“Our personnel continue to pursue activities which are critical to the reliability of the transmission network and which cannot be deferred, especially those essential to the coming summer season,” it said.

NGCP said its business continuity plan requires all linemen and substation personnel to regularly have their temperature checked during the course of their activities and to religiously practice personal and equipment sanitation protocols.

The company also put in place a contingency plan which includes the use of existing NGCP equipment in stock and resort to other suppliers not affected by COVID-19 to mitigate the impact of the disease on project deadlines and overall effect on power transmission operations.

NGCP is also evaluating the implementation of maintenance rescheduling, except for grid operating and maintenance program; isolation of entrance to control centers, substations and backup control centers; and provision of transportation, board and lodging for dispatchers and substation engineers.

NGCP also implemented contingency measures to minimize the effect of COVID-19 on its workforce.

These measures include the cancellation of official travels to affected countries and non-essential large events, protocol on employees returning from abroad, stricter procedure on entry of guests and introduction of alternative approach to meetings such as video conferencing.

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