THE House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a measure designating the first Monday of August of every year as National Line Workers Appreciation Day, a move aimed at formally recognizing the men and women who keep the country’s power systems running, often under dangerous and demanding conditions.
House Bill (HB) No. 7304, was approved with an overwhelming 218 votes, reflecting broad bipartisan support in the chamber for honoring line workers as essential frontliners in the power sector whose work sustains communities, businesses, and the wider economy, especially during emergencies and natural disasters.
House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos, one of the authors of the measure, of Ilocos Norte said the proposal seeks to give overdue recognition to line workers whose sacrifices are often unseen but deeply felt by ordinary Filipinos.
“They are among the pillars of our economy. Without them, there would be no stable and sufficient electricity supply especially in times of weather disturbances, which we have a lot of with our country being in the typhoon belt,” Marcos said.
The other authors of HB No. 7304 are Reps. Sergio C. Dagooc, Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte, Vincenzo Renato Luigi R. Villafuerte, Tsuyoshi Anthony “Hori” G. Horibata, Terry L. Ridon, Jose C. Alvarez, Kristine Singson-Meehan, Presley C. De Jesus, Julius Cesar “Jay” V. Vergara, Ann Matibag, Zaldy S. Villa, Reynaldo P. Salvacion, Rufus B. Rodriguez, JC Rahman A. Nava, MD, Isidro D. Lumayag, Maximo Y. Dalog, Jr., Johanne Monich G. Bautista, Mark O. Cojuangco, King Collantes, Antonino B. Roman, III, Adrian E. Salceda, Ma. Isabel L. Sagarbarria, Gil “Kabarangayjr” Acosta, Eulogio “Leo” R. Rodriguez, Leila M. De Lima, and Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo.
Marcos stressed that beyond symbolic recognition, the measure is part of a broader effort of the House under Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III to improve the welfare and safety of line workers who regularly face life-threatening risks in the course of their duties.
“So let us honor them and acknowledge the important job they are doing and the risk they take every single day. This is the reason why we have approved another bill mandating compulsory life and accidental insurance for them,” Marcos stressed.
Under the proposed law, the National Electrification Administration (NEA), in coordination with key stakeholders such as electric cooperatives, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, the National Transmission Corp., the Private Electric Power Operators Association, Manila Electric Co., and other companies employing line workers, is mandated to lead activities marking the annual observance.
These activities include lectures, trainings, seminars and other learning sessions designed to promote safety, skills development and public appreciation of line workers’ contributions.
The NEA is also tasked to spearhead an annual national convention as part of the celebration, with electric cooperatives and distribution utilities providing institutional support.
The measure further enjoins the Department of Energy, private electricity distributors, transmission companies and telecommunications firms to organize their own capacity-building activities in line with the observance of National Line Workers Appreciation Day, underscoring a whole-of-industry approach to worker recognition and safety.
With its approval on third and final reading, HB 7304 is expected to be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence, bringing Congress a step closer to institutionalizing a nationwide tribute to line workers whose work underpins daily life and economic activity across the country.
Earlier, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading HB No. 7239 introduced by Marcos and Representatives Sergio C. Dagooc, Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte, Vincenzo Renato Luigi R. Villafuerte, Tsuyoshi Anthony “Hori” G. Horibata, Terry L. Ridon, Edwin L. Guardiola, Agatha Paula Aguilar Cruz, Jose C. Alvarez, Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III, Kristine Singson-Meehan, Presley C. De Jesus, Julius Cesar “Jay” V. Vergara, Ann Matibag, Zaldy S. Villa, Reynaldo V. Salvacion, Rufus B. Rodriguez, JC Rahman A. Nava, Isidro D. Lumayag, Maximo Y. Dalog Jr., Johanne Monich G. Bautista, Mark O. Cojuangco, King Collantes, Antonino B. Roman III, Adrian E. Salceda, Ma. Isabel L. Sagarbarria, Gil “Kabarangay Jr.” Acosta, Eulogio “Leo” R. Rodriguez, Leila M. De Lima, Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo, and Nelson S. Legacion
HB No. 7239 mandates compulsory insurance coverage for thousands of electrical and telecommunications line workers.
Marcos said these personnel of electricity producers and distributors and telecommunications companies play an indispensable role in and contributing a large part to economic growth.
“They are among our workers who keep the economy going,” Marcos said. “Because of the important job they do and the risks they are exposed to, they should be entitled to and given commensurate benefits, including mandatory insurance coverage.”
HB No. 7239 is titled, “An Act providing for mandatory insurance coverage and benefits for all line workers.” Its short title is, “Line Workers Insurance and Benefits Act.”
It provides for mandatory life and accident or disability insurance benefits: for small cooperatives, the coverage is P200,000, P400,000 for medium coops, P600,000 for large, P800,000 for extra large, and P1 million for mega large.
For line workers of the National Transmission Corporation and the transmission line or grid operator, the minimum insurance benefit is P2 million; while for PDUs, it is P1.5 million.
