HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – Bataan 1st District Representative Geraldine B. Roman has filed a House Bill that seeks to mandate all electric, cable, and telecoms companies to conduct periodic inspections of their respective utility line installations to ensure strict compliance with the standards and regulations of the Philippine Electrical Code.
House Bill no. 272 is the “Act mandating all electric, cable and telecommunications companies to conduct periodic inspections of their respective utility line installations to ensure strict compliance with the standards and regulations provided under the Philippine Electrical Code.”
The Philippine Electrical Code serves as the basis in the installation of electrical system designs in the country. It has been approved and adopted by the Board of Electrical Engineering of the Professional Regulation Commission by virtue of its mandate under R.A. 7920, also known as “New Electrical Engineering Law.”
“Through the passage of time, in the absence of regular inspection and monitoring, the sagging of these wires and cables may happen which endangers the lives of people,” Roman said.
Roman added that it is for this reason that this measure is proposed to mandate all electric, cable and telecommunications companies to conduct periodic inspections of their respective utility line installation and for the government agencies exercising jurisdiction over these installations to monitor the height clearance requirements for the safety of the public.
When this bill becomes a law, the electric, cable and telecoms company which fails to conform with the standards of the Philippine Electrical Code shall be punished with the fine of not less than P10,000 but not more than 50 thousand pesos for the first offense; P50 thousand to P100,000 for the second offense and P100,000 to P200,000 for the third and subsequent offenses. –Mhike R. Cigaral/Contributor