A lineman of Negros Electric & Power Corporation (NEPC) is currently in a comatose state following a tragic accident while performing vegetation clearing operations yesterday, September 15.
In a statement, NEPC confirmed that its third-party contractor, Jessie James Torremocha, a 34-year-old native of Davao City, is in a comatose state following an accident that occurred around 3 PM yesterday in the Circumferential Road area of Barangay Villamonte, Bacolod City.
Torremocha was attempting to attach his harness to a branch of a 30-meter-high tree when he fell, losing consciousness upon impact. He was immediately rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of the Metro Bacolod Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
NEPC said his family in Davao City has been informed of the accident, and his wife is expected to arrive in Bacolod today. NEPC is extending its full support to Torremocha’s family during this difficult time, the statement added.
ANGRY CONSUMERS
The accident comes amidst a series of power outages in Negros Occidental. An official of NEPC said heavy rain and wind had damaged the aging power lines and polls that they inherited from Central Negros Electric Cooperative which triggered multiple power outages in their coverage area during the weekend.
Millie Kilayko, a resident of Bacolod City, shared her experience of a 13-hour brownout that occurred yesterday.
While Kilayko acknowledged the frustrations caused by the frequent power interruptions, she also emphasized the importance of recognizing the efforts of the linemen and other essential workers who risk their lives to provide essential services.
“When power was restored in my house at 11:30 in the evening, it happened because someone somewhere was up on a pole amidst yesterday’s harsh weather conditions, to fix the lines,” she said. “He could have fallen and hit his head. One wrong move and he could have lost his life through electrocution in a split second,” she added.
Kilayko urged the public to appreciate the sacrifices made by these ordinary people who work tirelessly to improve our lives.
“Let’s celebrate their presence in our lives by remembering to be kind to every ‘ordinary’ person we meet. And by saying a li’l prayer for these li’l people day by day,” she said.
