SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian, citing risks facing electrical linemen deployed to restore power supply amid bad weather, prodded the National Electrification Administration (NEA) over the weekend to ensure their logistical needs are provided to expedite repair and rehabilitation works in the devastated areas.
The senator noted the “selflessness and tireless efforts of electrical linemen and crew members who often do not receive the recognition they deserve for the services they perform working around the clock and mostly in dangerous conditions repairing damaged poles to restore power lines.”
Gatchalian pointed out that behind every electric utility is a team of people who have signed up to ”embrace the challenge of a job that would entail them to work 21 to 32 meters from the ground, ready to respond to outages caused by natural and man-made calamities.
“They (linemen) deserve the recognition for providing the much-needed customer service,” the senator stressed in a statement over the weekend.
Gatchalian said heroic efforts like that of Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative (Noreco) lineman Ronald Gallarde ought to be “acknowledged and honored as his service caused his life.”
Gallarde, a resident of Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, was electrocuted last December 25 as his team was working to reconnect an electric post toppled by typhoon Odette in Barangay Tugas.
Gatchalian said the linemen’s “steadfast commitment to serving their customers, even in the face of the continuing Coronavirus pandemic, merits a commendation as it does not only reflect their dedication to their work but sacrifices as well.”
The Senate Energy Committee chairman added that “incidents like these once again display the Filipinos’ resiliency and indomitable spirit amid challenges.”
He recalled that as of December 29, at least 859 line workers and 150 boom trucks have been deployed to Regions VI, VII, VIII, X, and Caraga, as per the Task Force Kapatid (TFK) inventory report. TFK was formed to help members whose power distribution lines were battered by typhoons.
Moreover, the Department of Energy (DOE) added that a 56-man team from the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) was sent to Cebu last December 21 along with 11 boom trucks and mechanized equipment to assist the Visayan Electric Co. (VECO) in the power restoration of downed distribution lines.