The House of Representatives approved on Third and Final Reading House Bill 9524 providing mandatory insurance coverage and benefits to line workers and House 9489 establishing a National Linemen Appreciation Day today, August 2.

Voting with 225 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and zero abstentions, the chamber passed House Bill 9489 proclaiming the first Monday of August every year as National Linemen Appreciation Day in honor of their invaluable contribution to to “nation-building” and “sustainable rural development through total electrification of the countryside”.

The bill mandates the National Electrification Administration in coordination with other stakeholders in the power industry to celebrate this day through the conduct of an annual national convention and a series of activities such as trainings, seminars, and learning sessions.

Also approved with 225 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and zero abstentions is House Bill 9524, or An Act Providing For Mandatory Insurance Coverage And Benefits For All Line Workers. This bill mandates the employers of line workers to provide for life and accident or disability insurance and mandatory benefits such as Retirement Benefits, Mortuary Assistance, Disability Benefits, and Reimbursement of actual medical expenses in case of death, accident, sickness, disability, or injury sustained by the line worker in the line of duty.

House Bill 9524 defines a line worker as “any person including crew, drivers, helpers who are directly responsible for the construction, installation, maintenance, reconstruction, and repair of overhead transmission and distribution electrical systems including underground cables, electrical substations, and other related electrical equipment and facilities”.

The approval of House Bills 9489 and 9524 coincides with the PHILRECA’s Second Annual Celebration of the National Linemen Appreciation Day today. PHILRECA is the association of the 121 rural electric cooperatives nationwide.