Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 646

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to require all electric, cable and telecommunications companies
to conduct periodic inspections of their respective aerial utility line installations and
to fix or remove all old unused aerial utility lines to ensure strict compliance with the
standards and regulations provided under the Philippine Electrical Code.

One of the greatest ironies in the present world where everything seems to
go wireless, is to see the grotesquely tangled mess of aerial wires and cables that
hang from the utility posts of our towns and cities. Over the years, the
accumulation of wires and cables, and the absence of regular inspection and
monitoring by the utility companies, have caused some utility posts to lean and
collapse, unable to support the excessive load of utility wires. Oftentimes, these
wires and cables pose dangers to the life and limbs of the people in the area.

It is for this reason that this measure is proposed to mandate all electric,
cable and telecommunications companies like MERALCO, PLDT, Bayantel, Skycable,
to conduct periodic inspection of their respective aerial utility line installations, and
ensure strict compliance with the standards and regulations under the Philippine
Electrical Code. The proposed law will also require 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.

3G MYRA S. Ilha



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 646

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL ELECTRIC, CABLE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
COMPANIES TO CONDUCT PERIODIC INSPECTIONS OF THEIR
RESPECTIVE AERIAL UTILITY LINES AND CABLE INSTALLATIONS, AND TO
FIX OR REMOVE ALL THEIR UNUSED LINES 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 are
required to perform the following:

(a) Conduct periodic inspections of their respective aerial utility line
installations;

(b) Fix and bundle-up its sagging or dangling aerial utility lines;

(c) Remove all rotted, old or unused aerial utility lines and utility posts;
and

(d) Strictly adhere and 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 "Wew Electrical Engineering Law.”


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SECTION 2. All cities and municipalities, through their respective city or
municipal engineers, or any person authorized by the city or municipality to act on
their behalf, shall ensure that every utility companies, within their territorial
jurisdiction, comply with the provision of Section 1 of this Act. The city or
municipality may withhold the renewal of the corresponding business licenses or
permits for erring companies that fail to comply with the standards set forth in RA
7920 and its implementing rules and regulations.

SECTION 3. The city or municipal engineer, or the authorized representative
of such city or municipality, in addition to the authority to withhold the grant or
renewal of licenses or business permits, may file a complaint against the electric,
cable and telecommunications company which fails to conduct periodic inspection of
its respective aerial utility line installations or to fix or bundle up its utility lines or
remove all old and unused lines in violation of 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 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.

SECTION 4. In addition to the civil liabilities prescribed by Article 2176 of
the civil code on quasi-delict and the penalties prescribed by Article 365 of the
revised penal code on criminal negligence, the electric, cable or telecommunications
company which violates the provisions of Section 1 of this Act, shall be punished
with a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) but not
more than Two hundred fifty thousand pesos (P250,000.00) for the first offense; a

fine of not less than Two hundred fifty thousand pesos (P250,000.00) but not more


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than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) for the second offense; and a fine
of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) but not more than One
million pesos (P1,000,000.00) for the third and succeeding offenses.

SECTION 5. The Secretary of Interior and Local Government shall, in
coordination and consultation with the Secretaries of Information and
Communications Technology, Public Works and Highways, and the Board of
Electrical Engineering, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SECTION 6. 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.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,