National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, the operator of the power grid, on Monday denied reports linking the company to the flooding in Cagayan Valley region.
“With regard to a misleading banner flashed during a news story on the Cagayan flood aired on Nov. 14 and again during the coverage of President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Cagayan on Nov. 15, NGCP would like to clarify that it has nothing to do with flooding in the Cagayan Valley area, or anywhere else in the country,” NGCP said in a statement.
NGCP, the private concessionaire and the system operator for the national transmission grid, has the mandate to operate, maintain and expand the Philippine power grid.
“We have no part in the operation of water sources or hydo power facilities such as the Magat Dam. A quick Google search will show that it is SN Aboitiz Power which operates the Magat Hydro facilities. The banner flashed during the above-mentioned news stories gives the false impression that the local governments in Cagayan province is contemplating a legal suit against NGCP for the loss of life and damage to property caused by the flooding,” NGCP said.
“The sound bites from Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba and Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano included in the Nov. 14 story does not mention NGCP at all, yet the story banner focuses on NGCP,” it said.
NGCP said it was not contacted by ABS-CBN which carried the story for a response or reaction to balance out the story. “We ask that a retraction be immediately issued, and that the ABS-CBN immediately cease the use of the offending and misleading banner,” it said.