CHIZ SEEKS INSURANCE COVERAGE, OTHER PROTECTION BENEFITS FOR POWER SECTOR WORKERS

AFTER championing VAT-free electricity to ease household costs, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has filed Senate Bill No. 498 seeking wider protection benefits, including  insurance coverage, for line workers who build, maintain, and repair the country’s electrical transmission and distribution systems.

“They perform both critical and dangerous work, yet a number of them do so bereft of any form of coverage against death, accidents, illness, and other fortuitous events that could be sustained in the line of duty,” Escudero said in the bill’s explanatory note.

The proposed Line Workers Insurance and Benefits Act seeks to require private distribution utilities, electric cooperatives, and transmission or grid operators to provide insurance coverage and entitlements such as retirement and disability benefits, death and burial assistance, and medical expense reimbursements.

“The coverage of my proposed bill also extends to drivers, helpers, and support crew who are deployed alongside line workers during construction and maintenance operations,” the senator pointed out.

“Employers will be responsible for paying the full cost of insurance premiums, which cannot be deducted from employee wages. This provision ensures that workers receive full protection without bearing the financial burden,” he added.

The veteran legislator explained that the measure draws from House Bill No. 7561, which was approved by the House of Representatives in the 19th Congress.

“The provision of insurance coverage and other benefits would ensure that our line workers, as well as their families, are protected from the risks and perils of their chosen occupation,” he said.

Escudero expressed hope that SB 498, which is currently pending before the Senate Committees on Energy and Labor, will be taken up soon as session resumes next week, stressing the urgency of protecting line workers who face daily hazards in the performance of their duties.

The measure complements the Bicolano senator’s broader legislative agenda focused on consumer relief and labor protection. By turning the spotlight on line workers, Escudero highlights his commitment to both affordability and dignity in public service delivery.