Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

74493

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Last year, it was reported that Region V is the fastest growing economy in
Luzon at an 8.9% growth in 2018 from 5% in 2017. Bicol even outpaced the NCR
and the Philippines’ gross domestic product which had a growth of 4.8% and
6.2% respectively. The quick growth in the industry sector, as well as in tourism,
gave Bicol the economic boost that it needed, and to ensure the continuous
growth of Bicol, the supply of basic utilities must be stable. Unfortunately, this
is not the case right now.

In December 2019, it was reported that several interest groups urged the
Bicol Regional Development Council to create the region’s own power grid by
tapping from their own sources in Tiwi or BacMan geothermal power plants. The
call for a Bicol Power Grid was initiated after the electric cooperatives failed to
restore electricity more than three weeks after the devastation made by Typhoon
Tisoy. Around 70% of the residents were left powerless when Tisoy brought down
1,000 electric poles in Bicol.

Whenever transmission lines connecting the geothermal power plants to
the NGCP gets damaged the Bicol supply becomes affected. Currently, the high
voltage power from the geothermal power plants is allegedly beyond what the
equipment of local power distributors can handle. Thus, the high voltage power
is fed to the Luzon Grid, and is sent back to the Tayabas station after the voltage
step-down before the distributors get power. This entire circuitous situation is
inefficient, and after Typhoon Tisoy it was proven that the NGCP station could
actually handle the high voltage power from Tiwi when it tapped the said
geothermal power plant directly after it was forced by a flood of complaints to
restore power immediately.

Thus, with the current situation, it is but reasonable to ensure the stability
of power supply in Bicol by creating the Bicol Power Grid. An independent Bicol
Grid is seen to lessen the cost of electricity, and decrease the length of time
needed for energy to be restored in times of calamities. Also, adopting this


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measure will make certain that the economy of Region V will continuously grow.
It is for these reasons that the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Representative, Ang Probinéyano Partylist


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 449

Introduced by ANG PROBINSYANO
Party-List Representative Alfred Delos Santos

AN ACT CREATING THE BICOL POWER GRID

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Bicol Power Grid
Act of 2020.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the state to ensure the
continuous growth of regional economies by enacting legislative measures which
will support their development. It is likewise the state’s policy to allow local
governments to fully exercise the powers devolved to it through the Local
Government Code in order to promote the general welfare of its constituents.

SECTION 3. Creation of the Bicol Power Grid - For purposes of creating the
Bicol Power Grid, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), in
coordination with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) shall take the
necessary steps to grant and establish an exclusive connection for the Bicol
Region with either the Bac-Man Geothermal Power Plant or the Tiwi Geothermal
Power Plant, whichever is more feasible.

The creation of the Bicol Power Grid shall be in accordance to existing
laws, rules and administrative issuances covering the subject matter.

SECTION 4. Participation of the Local Government of the Bicol Region. - The
local government unit of Region V (Bicol Region) shall closely coordinate with the
NGCP, ERC, and other concerned government agencies to ensure the successful
establishment of the Bicol Power Grid.

The LGU shall provide all necessary assistance to the concerned
government agencies. The LGU shall likewise commence expropriation


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proceedings and other necessary steps to ensure that a sufficient land area shall
be ready for the construction of any infrastructure for the power grid.

After the establishment of the Bicol Power Grid, the provincial government
of Bicol shall, as a corporate entity, manage the operations of the Bicol Power
Grid under the supervision and control of the National Grid Corporation of the
Philippines (NGCP). The operations of the Bicol Power Grid shall be in accordance
with existing laws, rules, and regulations covering the subject matter.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is
held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions or parts unaffected
shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, executive orders, presidential
decrees or issuances, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules, and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,