Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4222

Introduced by Honorable Mark O. Go

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Dangling and low-lying electric and cable wires, and derelict posts and poles are a
common sight and eyesore in most of our urban centers and communities. There have
been reports of accidents, many of those are fatal, caused by these dangling and low-lying
electric and cable wires.

On July 2015, a 13-year old boy in Barangay Tinago, Cebu City was killed when a
PLDT’s concrete post collapse upon him caused by the common problem of dangling
“spaghetti” wires and low-lying cables. The overhead cables was dragged by a passing
truck that toppled the pole.

On September 2014, a UST medical student, a hotel employee and a FEU student
were electrocuted by live wire during heavy floods in Sampaloc, Manila. The first two
victims died before reaching the hospital while the third victim was in critical condition.

‘The numerous cases of similar incidents and the public outcry from residents and
motorists in urban centers must lead us to intervene in fixing this problem which has
become prevalent across the country. Fast urbanization, unregulated rise in the population
density of many metropolitan area, and neglect by many public utilities have long tumed
the unruly state of cable and electric wires from merely being an eyesore to being a public
safety concern of national significance.

Pubic utilities are imbued with such public interest that they must be held
accountable for the effects of every area of their operation, not only with regard the quality
of service they provide, but also the manner by which they deliver such services.

The authority to operate a public utility is not an inherent right but only emanates
from the discretion of Congress and other specialized agencies that are empowered to grant


franchises and authorities. Such discretion is based on the determination that the operation
of the public utility would be beneficial to the public and has met the standards set forth by
the government. It is within our power, and our call of duty, to ensure that above all, the
interests of the public is preserved and promoted in the operation of public utilities.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is eamestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session
4222
HOUSE BILLNO.

Introduced by Honorable Mark O. Go

AN ACT MANDATING THE PROPER INSTALLATION AND
MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRIC AND CABLE WIRES, AND POSTS BY
CERTAIN PUBLIC UTILITIES FOR PURPOSES OF PUBLIC SAFETY

AND GOOD HOUSE KEEPING

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - I is hereby declared as a policy that the State
shall at all times ensure the protection of life and property, and to promote general welfare,
good housekeping and public safety in the conduct and delivery of services by the public
utilities.

SEC. 2. Responsibility of Public Utilities in Electric Power and Communications. —
It shall be the responsibility of public utilities that provide service in electric power,
communications and cable TV system to safeguard life and property in the course of its
conduct of service to its clients.

It shall uphold public safety, to foresee any possible event that may cause harm,
‘expose a person to peril and cause damage to property, by undertaking necessary
precautionary measures to prevent such. Public utilities shall also maintain good

, housekeeping in all of its service areas and communities.

SEC. 3. Installation of Electric and Cable Wires, and Posts and Standard
‘Requirements. — No installation of electric and cable wires, and posts shall be allowed in a
particular area without the proper inspection and approval of the City or Municipal
Engineer and shall conform with the standard requirements set and prescribed by the Inter-
Agency Committee as provided in this section. The specific location shall be inspected by
the Engineering officials prior to, during and after the installation.


The public utility company shall submit a plan and design for the installation of
electric and cable wires, and posts in a particular location with the Office of the City or
Municipal Engineer for approval.

An Inter-Agency Committee composed by the officials from the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of
Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH) and the City/Municipal Engineer shall set and implement the
standard height, volume and capacity of electric and cable wires, and posts in every
location and distance.

SEC. 4. Immediate Clean-Up Operation. - A Monitoring and Service Team shall be
created by the public utility company, in coordination with the City or Municipal Engineer,
to perform the immediate and necessary clean-up operation and maintainance of electric
and cable wires, and posts, in compliance with the provisions of this Act. The clean-up
operation shall be implemented within sixty (60) days from the promulgation of the
implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of this Act.

SEC. 5. Inspection and Maintenance. — The Monitoring and Service Team of a
public utility company shall conduct a quarterly inspection and maintenance of their
electric and cable wires, posts and other equipment installed in a particular area for the
delivery of its services. Maintenance shall include proper bundling, casing and replacement
of damaged electric and cable wires, and repair and replacement of posts.

SEC. 6. Relocation and Realignment of Wires, Cables and Posts. — A public utility
company shall relocate and realign displaced wires, cables and posts as a result of a public
infrastructure work. The implementing agency of a construction project shall inform and
coordinate with the concemed public utility company for the movement of its cables, wires
and posts.

SEC. 7. Certificate of Public Safety Compliance (CPSQ). — A certificate of public
safety compliance (CPSC) shall be issued by the local government unit concerned for every
two (2) years of operation by a public utility company in a particular area. No public utility
company shall be allowed to operate in a particular area without having been issued a
CPSC upon inspection by the City/Municipal Engineer.

The compliance certificate or CPSC for the last five (5) years shall be a pre-requisite
for the renewal of franchise of a public utility company.

SEC. 8. Penalty. — A public utility company found to violate any provisions of this
Act shall be imposed with a fine of not less than one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00)
but not more than one million pesos (P1,000,000.00) as determined by the court.

SEC.9. Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG), Deopartment of Energy (DOE), Department of Information and
‘Communications Technology (DICT) and the Department of Public Works and Highways


(DPWH) shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations within ninety
(90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act be declared
the remainder thereof not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and
effect.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
proclamations or administrative regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,