NGCP Upgrade Doubles Power Capacity for Iloilo City

By Mariela Angella Oladive

A major step toward a more reliable power grid for Iloilo City was achieved with the successful load transfer to a newly commissioned 100 megavolt-amperes (MVA) transformer at the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) substation in Iloilo City.

The upgrade, a result of collaboration between NGCP and MORE Power—the city’s electricity distributor—will significantly enhance the grid’s capacity to meet rising energy demand over the next three to four years.

MORE Power, which has long advocated for increased transmission capacity to support Iloilo City’s growth, welcomed the development as crucial to powering future investments and economic expansion.

“This is a significant step forward in ensuring a reliable and robust power grid for Iloilo City,” said Roel Castro, president of MORE Power.

“This upgrade will provide the necessary capacity to support the city’s growth and attract new investments.”

The newly energized 100MVA transformer increases NGCP’s substation capacity from 50MVA to 100MVA.

This directly benefits MORE Power’s network, particularly its mobile substation, Megaworld, and Jaro substations, and brings the utility closer to its goal of a 3x100MVA capacity.

“This is a major milestone in our efforts to improve the power infrastructure of Iloilo City,” Castro added.

“We are grateful to NGCP for their commitment to this project, which will benefit not just MORE Power but the entire city.”

NGCP also confirmed plans to continue upgrading its facilities in partnership with MORE Power.

Another power transformer is set for enhancement in the coming months, bringing the total capacity to 2x100MVA by the end of the year, and a full 3x100MVA by 2026.

This collaboration highlights a shared commitment to delivering a more stable and sustainable electricity supply for Iloilo City.

The expanded capacity is expected to support future investments, improve service reliability, and fuel further economic growth in the metro.

“This is a win-win situation for everyone,” Castro said.

“It shows that we are all working together to build a brighter future for Iloilo City.”