BAGUIO CITY – The Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) renewed its call Thursday for the public and construction firms to coordinate with the utility before working near power lines, following a string of fatal electrocution incidents.
“We call on the public, the construction companies to collaborate with Beneco before commencing with any works near power lines as they can be hurt for simple mistakes and observance of safety precautions,” said Laarni Ilagan, BENECO Community Relations associate.
Four people died in three separate electrocution incidents in January alone.
A father and son died in Bokod on Jan. 7 while installing a water pipe; a construction worker died in Loakan on Jan. 10 after a galvanized iron sheet contacted a primary line; and another worker died on Jan. 20 after a steel bar touched a live wire.
Assistant General Manager Artemio Bacoco said all victims were private individuals, not BENECO personnel, and the incidents resulted from unsafe practices without prior coordination.
He noted a 23.81 percent increase in electrical accidents in 2025, with 35 individuals affected compared to 24 in 2024.
Victims are typically construction workers, streetlight installers, and residents trimming trees near lines.
“Many of the cases stemmed from construction and installation activities conducted without proper safety precautions or coordination with the cooperative,” Bacoco said. **Liza Agoot
