BAGUIO CITY – Undressing, erection, climbing, riding of poles, and tying knots are words that may sound risqué to the uninitiated. But to the young and vigorous linemen or line workers, they practically mean their jobs performed on electric poles.
So cut the salacious double-meaning and instead watch the linemen climb through the roof.
Around 350 line workers will compete on the activities mentioned when the Luzon leg of the Line Workers Rodeo gets going on May 22 at the Baguio Melvin Jones football field. It will be a competition where line workers will showcase their skills in line maintenance.
The Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) is hosting for the second time the said rodeo. The last time was a low-key exhibition in 2019 held at the South Drive BENECO headquarters grounds before the pandemic.
The rodeo on May 22, 2025, however, will up the ante as representatives from the different electric cooperatives (EC) in Luzon will compete and showcase their expertise in dressing and undressing electric poles, pole erection, pole climbing, conductor riding, knot tying, emergency response and first aid.
These activities highlight the usual work that line workers normally do in the course of their line maintenance in their electric cooperatives.
Participants will be judged performing their tasks under time pressure, Josephus Joanino, BENECO health and safety officer, said.
Joanino is closely working with the 26 line workers from BENECO, Mountain Province Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MOPRECO), Abra Electric Cooperative (ABRECO), Kalinga Electric Cooperative, Inc. (KAELCO). They represent the Federation of Cordillera Rural Electric Cooperatives (FeCoREC), Inc. since the competition is by region.
The line workers’ competition will culminate in the much-anticipated crowning of the Luzon Rodeo King. Competitors for the title will showcase their expertise in conductor riding, pole climbing, pole dressing, and knot tying.
The Cordillera region EC’s representative to vie for the title is BENECO lineman Arvin Gamboa.
On Thursday, May 22, the rodeo will start early at 6:30 AM for the opening ceremonies and acknowledgement of the delegates, statement of the general rules and guidelines, safety rules and contest flow.
The rodeo proper will start at 7:30 AM. The early start is in anticipation of the usual early afternoon rains that Baguio has been experiencing recently.
Participating line workers will come from seven Luzon regions. These are RECA I (Region I Electric Cooperatives Association); NELECA (Northeast Luzon Electric Cooperatives Association); CLECA (Central Luzon Electric Cooperatives Association); ASTEC IV-A (Association of Southern Tagalog Electric Cooperatives IV-A); ASTEC IV-B
(Association of Southern Tagalog Electric Cooperatives IV-B); BECA (Bicol Electric Cooperatives Association).
Held every two years, the rodeo is being organized by the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA). The event is actually a “Warriors of Light Summit cum Line Workers’ Rodeo” which began in 2019 in Baguio City.
Line workers’ summits are held in partnership with the Philippine Association of Technical Managers of Electric Cooperatives (PHILATMEC), Philippine Electric Cooperatives Association of Safety and Environmental Officers (PECASEO) and United Linemen Association of the Philippines (ULAP).
At the 2023 summit, 266 skilled linemen and 170 support team members participated in the Luzon leg held in Capas, Tarlac hosted by the CLECA electric cooperatives.
This year’s summit, with its theme “Energised: Unite. Ignite. Dominate,” will be capped by a seminar on the following day which will focus on health and safety and stress management. By Laarni S. Ilagan
