By BONITA ERMAC
Correspondent
ILIGAN City–A landowner has demanded P40 million for the use of 30 square meters of a private property by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) in transmitting electricity generated by Agus hydroelectric power plants to the Mindanao grid, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. has revealed.
Adiong revealed this even as he expressed dismay over the outcome of initial talks between representatives of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and the owner of a property in Barangay Linamon, Ditsaan Ramain town, Lanao del Sur, where a power transmission tower was bombed on Dec. 24, 2015.
The landowner, the Sambitori family, has reportedly barred an NGCP crew from repairing the 138-kv Tower 24 that links the power line from the Agus 2 plant to Kibawe which is crucial to the power supply of the Davao region, including Gen. Santos City.
The Sambitoris were firm in their demand for payment from NGCP’s precursor Transco.
“We’ve talked about an amicable settlement, and it will go on according to the conditions… Hopefully, it will be okay as soon as possible,” said Nadjma Sambitori, the spokesperson of the Sambitori family.
Sambitori said her family has been demanding for a just compensation for over 42 years.
“If Davao has suffered without light for more than a month, we, too, are suffering for more than 42 years,” she said. “We are fighting for our land, our right, and the proper compensation that we deserve.”
She said her family wanted an end to the conflict but the government never paid attention to them until the transmission tower was bombed.
Sambitori denied that she and her family had anything to do with the December bombing, claiming that they, too, have been adversely affected and feel threatened.
Adiong said a land survey would be conducted before another meeting.
Adiong also said the police have yet to conclude their investigation into the bombings, and identify the culprits.
Lawyer Cynthia Alabanza, NGCP spokesperson, said the landowners were determined in their demand for payment, and they wanted a written assurance that their claims would be processed before they allowed the NGCP crew to have access to their property.
Alabanza said the NGCP had nothing to do with Transco’s “obligations” but “we are the ones who are tasked to maintain and restore” the bombed towers.
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