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ES
REGISTRATION UNIT
BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTA’
‘Quezon City, Metro Manil:

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BillNo.__272

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to mandate 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 has been approved and adopted by the
Board of Electrical Engineering of the Professional Regulation Commission by
virtue of its mandate under Republic Act No. 7920, also known as the “New
Electrical Engineering Law.” The Philippine Electrical Code serves as the
basis in the installation of electrical system designs in the country,

Electric, cable and telecommunications companies already existing in the
country such as MERALCO, PLDT, Bayantel, Skycable, observe and use the
provisions of the Philippine Electrical Code in the installation of their utility
lines. For instance, overhead power lines have strict guidelines for height
clearances over streets, sidewalks, alleys, roads and driveways for the safety of
the public. However, 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.

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.


In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly recommended.

c

Ai H hon
GERALDINE B. ROMAN


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 272

Introduced by Representative GERALDINE B. ROMAN

AN 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

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. All electric, cable and telecommunications companies shall
conduct periodic inspections of their respective utility line installations to
ensure strict compliance with the standards and regulations provided under the
Philippine Electrical Code, as approved and adopted by the Board of Electrical
Engineering of the Professional Regulation Commission pursuant to the
mandate vested upon the Board under Republic Act No. 7920, also known as
the “New Electrical Engineering Law.”

SEC. 2. Any person may file a complaint against the electric, cable and

telecommunications company which violates the standards and regulations


provided under the Philippine Electrical Code before the court of competent
jurisdiction. An administrative complaint under the Local Government Code,
may likewise be filed by any person against the provincial, city or municipal
engineer who fails to monitor the compliance of electric, cable and
telecommunications companies with the standards and regulations provided
under the Philippine Electrical Code.

SEC. 2. The electric, cable or telecommunications company which fails
to conform with the standards of the Philippine Electrical Code shall be
punished with a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) but not
more than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) for the first offense; a fine of not
less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than One hundred
thousand pesos (P100,000.00) for the second offense; and a fine of not less than
One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not more than Two hundred
thousand pesos (P200,000.00) for the third and subsequent offenses

SEC 3. The Department of Public Works and Highways, in coordination
and consultation with the Department of Transportation and Communications,
and the Board of Electrical Engineering, shall issue the necessary rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC 4. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,

amended or modified accordingly.


SEC 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,