PHILRECA supports bill seeking to grant lineworkers mandatory insurance coverage
The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (PHILRECA) supports the filing of a bill that seeks to provide mandatory insurance coverage and benefits to lineworkers in the power sector.
PHILRECA Executive Director and General Manager Atty. Janeene Depay-Colingan thanked Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero for recognizing the invaluable contribution of the lineworkers to our society by filing Senate Bill 2303.
"This bill marks a significant milestone for our Warriors of Light and the electric cooperative - member-consumer-owner (EC-MCO) movement, and we hope it will be approved by the Senate," Colingan said.
The PHILRECA executive added, "Our lineworkers 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."
Under Senate Bill 2303, private distribution utilities, electric cooperatives and transmission or grid operators will be mandated to provide insurance coverage to their respective lineworkers.
The bill also requires employers of lineworkers to grant additional benefits, such as retirement and disability benefits, death and burial assistance, and medical expense reimbursements, among others.
A similar measure — House Bill No. 7561 or the “Line Workers Insurance and Benefits Act" — has already been approved by the House of Representatives on its third and final reading.
Among the authors of the said bill are APEC Party-list Representative Sergio Dagooc and PHILRECA Party-list Representative Presley De Jesus.
At present, ECs extend certain benefits to their lineworkers, while the One EC Network Foundation, PHILRECA'S corporate social responsibility arm, offers emergency assistance to lineworkers. -30-
