CRIPPLED GRID A bomb explosion on Monday toppled this power transmission tower at Barangay Bagumbayan in Kauswagan, Lanao de Norte province, cutting electricity in the entire Zamboanga Peninsula (Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, and the cities of Dipolog, Dapitan, Pagadian and Zamboanga), Misamis Occidental and parts of Lanao del Norte. Authorities have yet to pinpoint who’s responsible. —Richel V. Umel
ILIGAN CITY — The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has lifted the power load curtailment imposed on Zamboanga Peninsula areas after its pylon was toppled on Monday, Oct. 24.
NGCP said in an advisory that it was able to wheel power again at 4:40 a.m. Wednesday through the 138-KV line from Baloi town in Lanao del Norte to Aurora in Zamboanga del Sur.
While the downed tower was being restored amid tight security watch by the Army and police, an emergency restoration system was installed to prop up the transmission line.
NGCP’s Tower No. 8, located at Sitio San Isidro of Barangay Bagumbayan in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, was bombed at 4:50 p.m. on Monday, bringing it down and cutting off the power supply to Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, and Misamis Occidental provinces, Zamboanga City, and some parts of Lanao del Norte.
The company asked the public to report to the authorities any suspicious activity involving NGCP’s transmission facilities.