Firm advises caution on home electric repairs

LINEMEN continue to work on power lines in northern Cebu towns, hoping to meet the target of bringing electricity back to areas reeling from the devastation brought by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” before Christmas. LITO TECSON/CEBU DAILY NEWS

DAVAO CITY—As power slowly returns to areas devastated by Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” the company supplying electricity here has cautioned “DIY (do-it-yourself) dads” against tinkering with electric circuits.

“When something at home gets broken or blows up, the do-it-yourself daddy comes to the rescue,” said an advisory issued by Davao Light and Power Co. (DLPC).

“But before the household superhero rushes to check and administer first aid on our fallen electronic friends, he needs to remember some safety precautions,” the advisory said.

First, the household electrician should inform the rest of the family he is about to tinker with electric lines or outlets so circuit breakers or switches would not be turned on.

Second, the DIY dads should not work under the rain, damp or wet conditions.

“If possible, stand on dry ground or a rubber mat and avoid working barefoot on wet floors,” the DLPC said.

Always wear rubber-soled shoes when tinkering with electric lines, it added.

Ross Luga, DLPC communications officer, said DIY dads are known to be heroes at home but “the best heroic measure in fixing any electrical problem is to ask accredited electricians to do it for you.”

“It’s good to be brave but it’s always wiser to be safe,” he said.

Arturo Milan, DLPC chief operating officer, said DLPC linemen were now helping restore power to northern Cebu.

Residents of northern Cebu, he said, “can now look forward to a brighter Christmas.”

He said DLPC was among the first companies to respond to the call for help from Cebu Electric Cooperative II in the rehabilitation of its power lines.

Since Nov. 14, Milan said 38 DLPC linemen, equipped with boom trucks, hardware materials and supplies, were working in the devastated province.

In a separate statement, DLPC said the effort to restore power to northern Cebu has made significant progress.

Milan said after completing their task in northern Cebu, DLPC linemen would next work in Ormoc City to help Leyte Electric Cooperative 5 restore power there.

“We are confident that we will be able to hit the target of re-energizing the entire area before the celebration of Christmas,” Milan said. Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao