Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2399 
Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. VINCENZO 
RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA, AND 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Our country ranked 10th in the most affected countries by extreme weather events in 
the 2025 Global Climate Risk Index.1 With 20 tropical cyclones entering the Philippine Area of 
Responsibility in 2024, and an expected average of around 20 storms and typhoons annually 
in the years ahead,2 our country is undeniably vulnerable to both economic and social 
challenges brought by these disasters. One of these is the predicament of affected 
communities on electricity supply. During extreme weather events, electric power lines, poles, 
and other components of our electrical system often face severe damage. This leads to 
interruption in communication, health service delivery, and disaster response efforts of 
government agencies, non-government organizations, and other stakeholders in affected 
areas. 
Under such conditions, line workers perform an essential and often dangerous role in 
restoring power. They risk their safety and at times, their lives, to repair distribution systems 
and re-establish electricity following calamities. Beyond disaster response, line workers 
regularly conduct pole repairs, maintenance, and electrification projects in underserved and 
remote areas, supporting rural development goals. Despite the critical nature of their work, 
line workers remain one of the most underappreciated sectors in our labor force. 
To acknowledge their contributions, this bill mandates that all line workers shall be 
entitled to life, accident, or disability insurance benefits, with a minimum required coverage of 
P200,000 for small distribution utilities, up to P1,000,000 for mega large distribution utilities, 
and P2,000,000 for transmission or grid operator. In addition, they shall be granted retirement 
benefits, mortuary assistance, disability benefits, and reimbursement of medical expenses 
incurred in the line of duty. 
A similar bill was approved by the House of Representatives and transmitted to the 
Senate during the 19th Congress. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
1 Explained PH. (February 2025). PH ranks 10th in global climate risk index due to extreme weather, 
https://explained.ph/2025/02/ph-ranks-10th-in-global-climate-risk-index-due-to-extreme-weather.html 
2 PAGASA, Tropical Cyclone Information. https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/climate/tropical-cyclone-information
July 28, 2025
10:30 am


HON. VINCENZO RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE 
HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2399 
Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. VINCENZO 
RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA, AND 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR MANDATORY INSURANCE COVERAGE AND BENEFITS 
FOR ALL LINE WORKERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1.  Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Line Workers Insurance and 
Benefits Act.”  
SECTION 2.  Declaration of Policy. – The State recognizes the role of the electrical line 
workers in the quest for sustainable economic development through the continuous and 
reliable supply of electricity, not only in residential dwellings, but most importantly, in 
commercial and industrial establishments, specifically in the countryside and rural areas, as 
envisioned by the Rural Electrification Program, and the risk they encounter in the 
performance of their duties and responsibilities. As such, it shall provide measures that 
recognize the contributions of line workers to nation-building particularly in the transmission 
and distribution sectors of the power industry by ensuring that their employers are providing 
them insurance coverage and other benefits in addition to what is provided for regularly by 
existing labor laws.  
SECTION 3. Definition of Line Workers. – As used in this Act, line workers shall refer to 
persons including crew, drivers, and helpers, who are directly responsible for the construction, 
installation, maintenance, reconstruction, and repair of overhead transmission and distribution 
electrical systems, including underground cables, electrical substations, and other related 
electrical equipment and facilities.  
SECTION 4.  Coverage. – This Act shall cover all line workers in the power industry sector as 
defined in Section 3 hereof, including those working in private distribution utilities (PDUs), 
electric cooperatives (ECs), and transmission or grid operator.  
SECTION 5.  Mandatory Insurance Coverage. – All line workers shall be entitled to life and 
accident or disability insurance benefits in accordance with the following minimum required 
coverage schedule:  
(a) In the case of electric cooperatives, the insurance coverage requirement shall be
calibrated according to the following classification:


 
 
National Electrification Administration 
Classification 
Minimum Insurance Coverage 
(Philippine Peso) 
SMALL 
200,000 
MEDIUM 
400,000 
LARGE 
600,000 
EXTRA LARGE 
800,000 
MEGA LARGE 
1,000,000 
 
(b) For the transmission or grid operator, the minimum insurance coverage shall be Two 
million pesos (P2,000,000.00).   
 
(c) For Private Distribution Utilities, the minimum insurance coverage shall be One million 
and Five hundred thousand pesos (P1,500,000.00).  
 
The coverage shall be effective upon the commencement of their employment until 
their separation from the company, either by resignation, termination, or retirement. The 
insurance premium payments shall be shouldered entirely by the employer.  
 
Employers who are already providing insurance coverage to their line workers equal 
to or more than the minimum requirement as prescribed herein are no longer required to make 
adjustment to their insurance coverage. Otherwise, they should augment the amount of 
coverage to comply with this Act: Provided, That in no way shall this Act be construed to 
diminish or reduce any insurance coverage which the line workers are already receiving or 
any entitlement under existing laws, company policy, or employment contracts or collective 
bargaining agreements between the employer and the employees.  
 
SECTION 6.  Mandatory Benefits. – In addition to the mandated insurance coverage, the 
employers of line workers shall also ensure the provision of the following mandatory benefits:  
 
(a) Retirement benefits  
 
(b) Mortuary assistance  
 
(c) Disability benefits  
 
(d) Reimbursement of actual medical expenses in case of death, accident, sickness, 
disability or injury sustained by the line worker in the line of duty: Provided, That when a 
line worker participates in power restoration and rehabilitation efforts in calamity-stricken 
areas or similar engagements hosted by an entity other than the employer of the line 
worker, such host entity shall provide the line worker with benefits similar to those provided 
under this Section and as may be allowed by its financial capacity to cover death, accident, 
sickness, disability or injury sustained by the line worker during such engagement.  
 
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in consultation with stakeholders, 
shall provide comprehensive list of all other benefits that line workers should be entitled to in 
addition to the above mandatory benefits and the same shall be incorporated in the rules and 
regulations to be issued to implement this Act.  
 
SECTION 7.  Disqualifications from Benefits. – No benefits shall be given to any line worker 
or the line worker's beneficiaries if and when the death, accident, sickness, disability, or injury 


 
 
happened during an unauthorized absence or abandonment of office or is caused by any of 
the following:  
 
(a) Willful intention to injure or kill oneself;  
 
(b) Notorious negligence;  
 
(c) Failure to observe safety protocols or exercise reasonable care for one's own safety; 
and 
 
(d) Commission of a crime by the line worker.  
 
SECTION 8.  Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days upon approval 
of this Act, the National Electrification Administration shall, together with the DOLE, the Energy 
Regulatory Commission, and in consultation with the PDUs and ECs, promulgate and issue 
the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.  
 
SECTION 9.  Separability Clause. – If for any reason, any part or provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof, which are not affected 
thereby, shall continue to be in full force and effect.  
 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, letters of 
instruction, administrative rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
 
SECTION 11. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
 
Approved,