EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 2160
NDt X
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT MANDATING THE PROPER INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE 
OF OVERHEAD ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION, COMMUNICATION 
LINES, AND RELATED STRUCTURES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 24, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that, 'The State 
recognizes the vita! roie of communication and information in nation-buiiding."
The pandemic, which started in 2020, brought the whole world to a new normal. 
Two basic utilities are now crucial in surviving the new normal: electricity and internet. 
Governments must ensure that access to these basic rights are readily available and 
are efficiently maintained.
According to Fitch Solutions, power demand is expected to rebound strongly and 
recover to pre-pandemic trends, which will necessitate stronger capacity growth and 
by extension, distribution growth. As of October 2020, the household electrification 
rate of the Philippines was 92.96%, which is equivalent to 23.23 million households 
with access to power. Experts expect annual power demand to grow on an average 
of 4.6% from 2020 to 2029. As such, the government must ensure continuous, 
reliable, and more efficient service from power distribution companies to deliver the 
basic energy needs of every Filipino household.
Another sector whose usage has been affected by the pandemic is the 
telecommunications industry. The new normal pushes everyone to connect digitally 
because of ongoing restrictions.-
According to SNL Kagan, prolonged lockdowns strained the country's limited 
broadband infrastructure. The country had its average fixed broadband speed down


by 8.4% from 25.91 Megabits per second (Mbps) in January 2020 to 23.74 Mbps in 
June 2020 which is second to the last in the ASEAN Region. Singapore has the fastest 
average broadband speed at 208.16 Mbps, while Indonesia ranked the lowest with 
21.28 Mbps.
This bill seeks to uphold the general welfare of clients by improving the reliability 
of transmission lines for power and telecommunications by ensuring the sound 
maintenance of utility poles, cables, equipment, and accessories. It mandates all 
electric and telecommunication companies to conduct periodic inspections of their 
respective utility lines. In addition, local government units are tasked with monitoring 
the performance of the distribution companies within their jurisdiction.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
IMEE R. MARCOS


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 2160
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT MANDATING THE PROPER INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE 
OF OVERHEAD ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION, COMMUNICATION 
LINES, AND RELATED STRUCTURES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "ProperInstallation and
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Maintenance of Overhead Electric Distribution and Communication Lines Act".
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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ensure the safety and protection of life and property of every person in the Philippines
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and uphold the general welfare of the public.
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It is also the responsibility of the government to promote good housekeeping
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and implement sound maintenance of utility poles, lines, cables, equipment and
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accessories in the conduct and delivery of services by electric distribution, cable, and
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telecommunications companies to their clients.
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SEC. 3. Responsibility of Electric Distribution and Telecommunications
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Companies. - It shall be the responsibility of the electric distribution and
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telecommunication companies to prepare contingencies for calamities or any
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unforeseen event that may cause harm, expose a person to peril and cause damage
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to property, by undertaking necessary precautionary measures to prevent the same.
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Toward this end, all electric distribution and telecommunications companies shall
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perform the following over all of its overhead electric distribution and communication
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lines:
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a) Conduct periodic inspection in compliance with the standard clearance under
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the Philippine Electrical Code Part 2 (PEC 2) and as provided for in this Act or
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its implementing rules and regulations;
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b) Fix and bundle-up dangling overhead secondary and communication lines;
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c) Remove unused overhead electric distribution and communication lines;
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d) Replace all unused, misplaced, damaged and rotten utility poles;


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e) Strictly adhere to and ensure 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, 
otherwise known as the "New Electrical Engineering Law')
f) Submit an annual report to the concerned Sangguniang Bayan or Panlungsod 
of the status of the installation and maintenance of overhead electric 
distribution, communication lines and related structures in the respective 
locality and their compliance to the provisions of this Act. Provided, that in 
case of a devastating calamity, a report should also be submitted within a 
period of sixty (60) days from the date of the said calamity; and
g) Shoulder any and all costs necessary to efficiently carry-out the 
aforementioned acts.
SEC. 4. Joint Use of Structures. - The joint use of structures shall be considered 
for circuits along highways, roads, streets, and alleys. The choice between joint use 
of structures and separate lines shall be determined through consideration of all the 
factors Involved, Including the character of circuits, the total number and weight of 
conductors, tree conditions, number and location of branches and service drops, 
structure conflicts, and availability of right-of-way and other factors as may be 
provided In the rules and regulations to be promulgated to implement. Where such 
joint use is mutually agreed upon. It shall be subject to the appropriate grade of 
construction specified in Article 3.5 of PEC 2.
SEC. 5. Responsibility of the Local Government Units (LGUs). - All cities and 
municipalities shall, through their respective city or municipal engineers or the 
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the case of national roads, 
ensure that every electric distribution and telecommunication company, within their 
territorial jurisdiction, comply with the provisions of Section 3 of this Act. The 
Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan concerned shall, pursuant to Republic 
Act No. 7160, as amended, otherwise known as the Local Government Code, issue an 
ordinance governing the overhead Installation of electric distribution lines, cables and 
utility poles, in accordance with the Electrical Code, National Building Code and RA 
No. 11361 or the Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act and In consultation with the
agencies concerned.
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The c(ty or municipal engineer, or the authorized representative of such city or 
municipality shall, in addition to the authority to withhold the grant or renewal of 
licenses or^business permits, file a complaint against the electric distribution or 
telecommunications company, which fails to conduct periodic inspection of its 
respective electric distribution or communication line installations or fix or bundle up 
its lines or remove all old and unused lines in violation of the regulations and standards


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provided for under the PEC 2 before the court of competent jurisdiction. Any person 
may file an administrative complaint against the city or municipal engineer who fails 
to monitor the compliance of electric distribution, and telecommunications companies 
with the standards and regulations provided under the PEC 2.
Once it has been notified of a possible violation, the city or municipality, or the 
DPWH in the case of national roads, shall send notice to the erring company to allow 
it to rectify its error within a reasonable time or to explain Its reasons for failure to 
comply with the standards set forth in Republic Act No. 7920 and Its implementing 
rules and regulations. Upon failure to rectify its error or continuous non-compliance 
without justifiable cause, the city or municipal engineer, or the DPWH in the case of 
national roads, may conduct an investigation, upon due notice to the erring company. 
A finding of fault by the authorized person conducting the investigation may result in 
the withholding of the renewal of the corresponding business licenses or permits for 
erring electric distribution and telecommunications companies.
The companies shall notify the LGU concerned on violations on the issuance of 
building permits for non-compliance with the rules and the standards on setbacks and 
clearances under the Philippine Electrical Code, the National Building Code, and the 
"Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act" or Republic Act No. 11361, as provided in this 
Act.
SEC. 6. Installation of Overhead Electric Distribution Lines/ Gabies and Utility 
Poles and Standard Requirements. - All installation of overhead electric distribution 
lines, cables, and utility poles shall be inspected by the city or municipal engineer, or 
the DPWH, whichever Is applicable. Installation of overhead electric distribution lines, 
cables and utility poles shall conform to the PEC 2, Philippine Distribution Code (PDC), 
Distribution Services and Open Access Rules (DSOAR), National Building Code (NBC), 
and other applicable existing local and international standards, of which compliance 
shall be ensured by the Inter-Agency Committee under Section 9 of this Act. The 
specific location shall be inspected by the engineering officials prior to, during and 
after the Installation.
In cases where the ideal location of a pole installation is unavailable, the 
concerned city or municipal government, or the DPWH, shall assist the pole owner in 
identifying and securing the right-of-way (ROW) for alternative pole locations, at no 
cost to the government.
Pending the promulgation of standards by the Inter-Agency Committee under 
Section 9 of this Act, or a uniform set of requirements by the barangay, city, or 
municipal government unit on the overhead installation and maintenance of electric 
distribution lines, cables, utility poles, equipment and accessories, the city or municipal 
government shall assist the owner of a facility on issues concerning the same.


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SEC. 7. Creation of a Monitoring and Service Team. - A Monitoring and Service 
Team, led by the city or municipal engineer and composed of representatives from 
the pole owners and the electric distribution, cable, and telecommunications 
companies, shall. In coordination with the barangay, city, or municipal-engineer or the 
DPWH, whichever Is applicable, be created to perform the immediate and necessary 
clean-up operation and maintenance of overhead electric distribution lines, cables, 
utility poles, equipment and accessories in compliance with the provisions of this Act. 
The clean-up operation shall commence within six (6) months from the promulgation 
of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) pursuant to Section 13 of this Act.
SEC. 8. Roie of the Monitoring and Service Team. - The Monitoring and Service 
Teams of electric distribution, cable, and telecommunications companies shall conduct 
a semi-annual inspection to check compliance to Section 3 of this Act and maintenance 
of their electric distribution lines, cables, utility poles, equipment and accessories 
Installed In a particular area for the efficient delivery of their services. Maintenance 
shall include proper bundling, casing and replacement of damaged electric distribution 
lines and cables, and repair and replacement of utility poles, equipment and 
accessories, and retirement of unused electric distribution lines, cables and utility 
poles.
Electric distribution, cable, and telecommunications companies shall be given a 
reasonable period of time to relocate and realign displaced lines, cables, utility poles, 
equipment and accessories as a result of a public infrastructure work. The 
implementing government agency of a construction project shall Inform and 
coordinate with the electric distribution, cable, or telecommunication company 
concerned for the relocation of its lines, cables, utility poles, equipment and 
accessories. The cost of relocating such lines, cables, utility poles, equipment and 
accessories shall be shouldered by the implementing agency of the construction 
project. The implementing government agency shall prpvide its plans, specifications 
and provide utility corridors for the adequate evaluation of the design, construction, 
operation, and maintenance of facilities. All costs that shall be incurred in the 
necessary relocation of facilities of the public utilities concerned as a result of such 
public infrastructure work shall be borne by the Implementing agency or project 
proponent as part of its obligation to deliver the right-of-way, or by the private 
concessionaire, as the case may be.
Any and all costs which shall be necessarily incurred on the clean-up operation 
and maintenance of overhead electric distribution lines, cables, utility poles, 
equipment and accessories in compliance with the provisions of this Act shall be 
shouldered and paid for by the electric distribution, cable, or telecommunications 
companies for whom the monitoring and/or service was undertaken to the city or 
municipal government where the city/ municipal engineer leading the monitoring and 
service team belongs.


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A real-time inspection and monitoring shall be done In cases of emergencies and 
calamities.
SEC. 9. Inter-Agency Committee. - An Inter-Agency Committee to be chaired by 
the ERC and composed of authorized representatives from the DPWH, Department of 
the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Information and 
Communications Technology (DICT), National Telecommunications Company (NTC), 
National Transmission Corporation (TransCo), National Electrification Administration 
(NEA), and representatives from the LGUs, Is hereby created to set the prescribed 
standards in the overhead installation of lines, cables, utility poles, equipment and 
accessories, monitor the same and conduct periodic Inspection thereof to ensure 
compliance thereto and shall jointly plan for the conduct of clean-up drives, identify 
issues, prioritize key areas, recommend best practices or way forward, to ensure 
compliance of the latter with applicable existing laws, rules and regulations of relevant 
agencies/offices of the government, such as the PEC, the PDC, and the NBC.
The Inter-Agency Committee may invite resource persons, if deemed necessary, 
frpm Professional Regulatory Board of Electrical Engineering (PRBEE), PRC-Board of 
Electronics and Communications Engineering (PRCBECE), the Institute of Integrated 
Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (IIEE) and two (2) representatives from the 
private sector.
SEC. 10. Penalty Provisions. - 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, and unless otherwise provided 
under special laws, an electric distribution, cable, or telecommunications company 
found in violation of any provision of this Act, shall be punished with a fine of not less 
than Two hundred fifty thousand pesos (P250,000.00) but not more than Five hundred 
thousand pesos (P500,000.00) for the first offense; 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 second offense; and a fine of not less than One million pesos 
(P1,000,000.00) but not more than Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00) for the third 
and succeeding offenses, as may be determined by the court.
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The ERC shall, in consultation 
with the DPWH, DILG, DICT, NTC, TRANSCO, PRBEE, PRCBECE, NEA, lEE and 
representatives from the LGUs, the electric distribution, cable and telecommunications 
companies, promulgate the necessary Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) 
within one hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision 
of this Act shall be declared as unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions 
hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.


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SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of existing laws, orders, ruies and 
regulations or parts thereof which are in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act are hereby repeaied, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation In the 
Philippines.
Approved,