By: Philippines News Agency
April 7, 2014 10:53 AM
ORMOC CITY — The Leyte V Electric Cooperative (Leyeco V) based in this city moved from the original March 31 deadline to April 15 the completion of infrastructure restoration works, following a recent accident that killed a lineman from Task Force Kapatid Bileco (Biliran Electric Cooperative).
Leyeco V general manager Juanito Jorda said the worker’s accidental death brought them deep sorrow and right away the cooperative3 stopped operations to conduct a quick investigation on the incident.
In a statement, Michael Guiñarez, head of Leyeco V Corporate Planning and Energy Trading Division, said the incident occurred at around 3:30 p.m. on March 28 while Bileco crew members and Leyeco V linemen were rehabilitating the distribution line in Burabod village, Leyte town.
The wood pole Bileco lineman Noel Manguing climbed on collapsed, causing him to fall to the ground. His safety rope was fastened to the fallen old pole. He was detaching the rope tied to the old wood pole when the accident happened, Guiñarez said.
Leyeco V worker Asterio Caminade was also hurt. The two were seriously injured and brought to North Western Leyte General Hospital in Calubi-an, Leyte for immediate medical help but barely an hour later, Manguing died while Caminade was transferred to OSPA-FMC in Ormoc.
Financial assistance to the bereaved family is urged.
Guiñarez added that following the incident, it was recommended to conduct “strict observation of safety on the physical condition of the wood poles and its attachments prior to actual works.”
He also revealed that as of this week, the coop restored 90 percent of Ormoc’s infra works and 68.92 percent of their households were already illuminated.
The coop has put back 75.06 percent of infra works and 58.45 percent of households in its total area of coverage that include 11 municipalities and one city in the 3rd and 4th districts of Leyte, added Guiñarez.
He is optimistic that by April 15, all infra works will be finished and that household line installations will follow with continuous aid of Task Force Kapatid.