Background and Impact of the Cebu Earthquake
The Visayas power grid faced a significant challenge after a magnitude-6.9 earthquake struck Cebu province, prompting rapid response from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). The tremor damaged facilities at the Daanbantayan Substation, among other transmission assets, risking interruptions to power supply across the region. NGCP’s swift actions aimed to preserve grid stability and minimize outages for consumers.
Key Restoration Milestones
NGCP reported that power transmission services in the Visayas were normalized as early as Wednesday, October 1, even as repair work continued on several lines. A major milestone was reached on October 3 at 9:38 a.m. local time, when NGCP energized the Daanbantayan-Tabango 230kV Line 2. This submarine cable plays a crucial role in linking Cebu and Leyte, enhancing the resilience of the backbone corridor.
In addition to Line 2, the Compostela-Daanbantayan 230kV Line 1 was energized on October 7 at 2:18 a.m. and is now operating in parallel with Line 2, further strengthening the grid’s redundancy. Restoration crews have deployed more than 60 personnel to monitor, test, and repair affected equipment. Despite these gains, NGCP notes that work continues on the remaining outage: the Daanbantayan-Tabango 230kV Line 1, which is essential for restoring full N-1 contingency on the affected segment.
Ongoing Efforts and Contingency Plans
NGCP emphasizes that the restored lines provide an important N-1 contingency for the backbone transmission corridor that has already been brought back online. This staged approach helps ensure reliability while avoiding unnecessary service interruptions for power customers. The utility has also urged the public to coordinate with distribution utilities and electric cooperatives for any localized interruptions that may arise during the continuation of repairs.
Crews continue to monitor the grid, ready to respond to any aftershocks or new incidents. NGCP’s post-event resilience plan focuses on rapid reassessment of damaged facilities, secure reconnection of lines, and maintaining a stable, reliable transmission network across Visayas and the interconnected system.
What This Means for Consumers and the Grid
For households and businesses, the restoration of the Visayas grid reduces the risk of prolonged outages and supports normal daily activities. The successful energization of critical 230kV submarine and onshore lines improves the resilience of the region’s energy supply, enabling faster recovery from disruptions and better support for regional demand fluctuations.
Experts note that maintaining robust transmission infrastructure is essential in seismically active zones. NGCP’s response demonstrates the value of quick, coordinated restoration work, specialized teams, and reliable communication with local distribution utilities to manage localized outages during repairs.
Safety and Community Guidance
NGCP reminds the public to stay informed through official distribution utilities and to report any power interruptions to their providers. The company will continue to monitor the situation and remains alert for aftershocks, which can influence restoration timelines and grid stability.
Conclusion
As the Visayas Grid returns to normal operations, NGCP’s rapid restoration of key 230kV lines and its ongoing commitment to network reliability underscore the importance of resilience in the Philippine power system. The coordinated effort involving hundreds of professionals and the strategic energization of Line 2 and Line 1 signal a steady path toward full restoration of the region’s transmission framework.
