Senator Chiz Escudero has filed legislation to strengthen protections for power sector workers, highlighting their crucial role in maintaining grid resilience and service stability.
Escudero introduced Senate Bill No. 498, which aims to institutionalize benefits and safeguards for linemen and other frontliners who respond to typhoons, earthquakes, and widespread outages.
“Consumers are burdened by rising rates, but the linemen and frontliners who keep the grid running face risks and inadequate safeguards. SB 498 seeks to address this gap,” he said.
The bill comes as electricity rates rose by ₱0.2226 per kilowatt-hour in February, adding roughly ₱45 to the monthly bill of a typical household.
Escudero stressed that protecting workers is essential to maintaining efficiency and preventing costly service disruptions.
“Consumers see the peso impact on their bills, but behind every kilowatt-hour is a workforce exposed to hazards. Protecting them is part of ensuring that the system remains efficient and cost-effective,” he noted.
The measure, pending before the Senate Committee on Energy, also supports the country’s energy transition.
Escudero highlighted that expanding renewable projects like solar and wind requires a skilled and secure workforce to integrate new technologies into the grid. He expressed hope that hearings on the proposal would be scheduled soon.