ILIGAN CITY – Electric distribution utility Iligan Light and Power Inc. conducted an orientation on electrical safety, connection process, and compliance standards for four hinterland barangays August 3, Wednesday, in Barangay Digkilaan here.

Some 45 barangay officials and purok presidents from Barangays Digkilaan, Bonbonon, Mainit, and Rogongon participated in the activity which is part of ILPI’s initiatives in reaching out to their consumers in the grassroots communities.

It also aims to improve their services by gathering inputs from their consumers and provide immediate solutions to their concerns, said ILPI Human Resource Administration Group Manager Casa Belandres.

ILPI established a one-stop shop in Barangay Digkilaan to accommodate applications for electricity.

ILPI line head Dionisio C. Tano emphasized the need to empower their consumers by raising awareness on electrical safety to avoid accidents in communities.

He also shared laws and penalties against illegal use of electricity such as direct tapping, flying connection, meter and metering connection tampering, and vandalism.

To ensure that electricity smoothly reach homes, Republic Act No. 11361 or the An Act Ensuring the Continuous and Uninterrupted Transmission and Distribution of Electricity and the Protection of the Integrity and Reliability of Power Lines, and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof, was enacted.

Penalties for violating the law range from six months imprisonment and P50,000 fine or both for the first offense, six years and a fine of P100,000 for the second, and 12 years imprisonment and P200,000 fine or both for the third offense.

Welni Libredo, purok president in Barangay Digkilaan, thanked Iligan Light and Power for conducting the orientation and having the one-stop shop.

He also said he is grateful for learning the safety measures for electricity. "I will share what I learned to residents in my purok.”

ILPI was founded in 1930 and is now serving almost 70,000 consumers all throughout the city's 44 barangays.