Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday welcomed the decision of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to extend its “no disconnection” policy until the end of this year.

Hontiveros said such a move is “humane and considerate” more especially at a time when more Filipino families were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Magandang balita ito para sa ating mga konsyumer na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nakakabangon sa pinsalang dala ng pandemya (This is good news for our consumers who, until now, have difficulty rising from the losses brought about by this pandemic),” Hontiveros said in a statement.

The ERC has released its advisory directing distribution utilities (DU) not to implement any disconnection on non-payment of bills of households consuming 200kwh and below for Meralco consumers and 100kwh and below for electric cooperative consumers.

The senator said such a move will help ease power consumers’ burdens considering that the unemployment rate is down and millions of workers are still placed on extended furlough or floating status.

“Dahil hindi kayang pagsabay-sabayin ang mga bayarin, maraming pamilya ang mas uunahin ang kakainin sa araw-araw kaysa ang magbayad ng utility bills (Many families have no means to pay their utilities all at the same time. Many of them would rather put food on their table than settle their monthly utility bills),” she said.

“Ang patakarang ito ay tunay na makatao at magbibigay ng pag-asa sa mga kababayan natin lalo’t paparating na ang Pasko (This policy is humane and will give our people hope especially during this Christmas),” Hontiveros added.

However, the lawmaker said the government should look after the welfare of electric cooperatives which are non-profit in nature.

In contrast with big companies like Meralco, she noted that most of the members of electric cooperatives are lifeliners or households with monthly 100kWh consumption.

She said the government should help electric cooperatives sustain their operations and allocate sufficient budget for the National Electrification Administration (NEA) which is in charge of rural electrification.

“Ang electric cooperatives ay hindi katulad ng mga higanteng korporasyon na may naiipong kita sa pagnenegosyo sa mahabang panahon (These electric cooperatives are no giant corporations that earn from their businesses in the long run),” she said.

“Ang electric cooperatives, kung walang singil, ay wala ring working capital. At kung karamihan ng miyembro nila ay less than 100kWh ang konsumo, hindi sila makakasingil hanggang Disyembre (If cooperatives do not ask for payment, they don’t have any working capital. And if most of their members consume less than 100 kwh, they can’t demand payment until December),” she added.

The government, she said, should ensure that these electric cooperatives can recover their operational expenses.

“Kailangan nila ng suporta mula sa gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng tama at nararapat na badyet sa NEA. Dapat ay win-win para sa lahat (They need support from the government by giving the NEA sufficient budget. There should be a win-win solution for everyone),” Hontiveros said.