The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (Philreca) supports the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 2303 which will provide mandatory insurance coverage and benefits to line workers in the power sector.
Under the proposal, private distribution utilities, electric cooperatives (ECs) and transmission or grid operators will be mandated to provide insurance coverage to their respective line workers.
The bill also requires employers of line workers to grant additional benefits, such as retirement and disability benefits, death and burial assistance and medical expense reimbursements, among others.
“Our line workers risk their lives every day to ensure that our homes and businesses have a steady supply of electricity, so it is our moral obligation to provide them all the necessary assistance and benefits they deserve,” said Janeene Depay-Colingan, Philreca executive director and general manager, in a statement.
Philreca said House Bill No. 7561 or the Line Workers Insurance and Benefits Act which is a similar measure to SB 2303, has been approved by the House of Representatives on its third and final reading.
At present, ECs only extend certain benefits to their lineworkers while the One EC Network Foundation, PHILRECA’s corporate social responsibility arm, offers emergency assistance to line workers. -Jed Macapagal
