Deliberately set fire caused outage in Cotabato, Maguindanao–NGCP

COTABATO CITY—The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has said Friday evening’s power outage that hit the city and several other Maguindanao towns has been traced to a grass fire deliberately set by still unidentified perpetrators in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

Melfrance Capulong, speaking for the NGCP, said a wooden transmission pole was burned and toppled in Barangay Salimbao, Sultan Kudarat, due to the grassfire that started at 10:57 p.m.

The toppled structure carried the 69 kilovolt Sultan Kudarat-Cotabato City-Datu Saudi Ampatuan line which supplied electricity to the Cotabato Light and Power Company (Cotabato Light) and Maguindanao Electric Cooperative (Magelco).

“Initial findings indicate sabotage,” Capulong told the Inquirer. She did not elaborate, saying investigation was still ongoing.

Power was restored in the Cotabato Light franchise area at 1:39 a.m. while supply to Magelco areas was restored at 7:14 a.m. on Saturday.

NGCP completed the necessary repairs at 1:54 p.m. today with the installation of a modified lightweight tower, Capulong said. RC