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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 4Ps beneficiaries urged to register in gov't lifeline electricity rate program

4Ps beneficiaries urged to register in gov't lifeline electricity rate program

Published Dec 25, 2023 03:11 am

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday, December 25 urged beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to register in the government’s lifeline electricity rate program to avail of electricity bill discounts.

Gatchalian said Republic Act 11552 or an Act Extending and Enhancing the Implementation of the Lifeline Rate, of which he is a principal sponsor in the Senate, is a Christmas gift for the Filipinos.


“Pamaskong handog ito para sa mga kababayan nating sadyang hirap sa buhay. Palalawigin pa ng gobyerno ang subsidiya sa kuryente pagdating ng Enero 2024 (This is a Christmas gift to our people who are especially poor. The government will do its best to expand power subsidy by January 2024),” Gatchalian said.

The senator noted that the tripartite body—Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Energy (DOE), and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)—had earlier delayed the implementation of the new lifeline rate program from September this year to January 2024 in a bid to accommodate more 4Ps beneficiaries to enlist.

Under the program, beneficiaries need to consume not more than 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month in order to avail of the subsidy.


The program covers households who are unable to pay their bills, including beneficiaries of 4Ps, or customers considered to be living below the poverty threshold set by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The subsidy program is meant to assist electricity consumers adversely affected by the volatility of fuel prices and high cost of basic commodities.


“We pushed for this measure because we wanted more people to benefit from the subsidy program,” the senator said.


According to the lawmaker, the subsidy could range between 20 to 100 percent for those living within the franchise area of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), depending on how much electricity they consume.


The power reduction rate also depends on the prevailing rates of the distribution utilities or electric cooperatives.

Gatchalian, likewise, urged the tripartite body to ensure that the enrollment is not too cumbersome for the 4Ps beneficiaries.


“The government must step up efforts to get deserving households on the list of beneficiaries and ensure that the enrollment procedure is both convenient and expeditious,” he said.


“There should also be an intensified information and dissemination campaign to reach as many beneficiaries as possible,” the senator added.

Related Tags

Power rates Sherwin Gatchalian lifeline subsidy
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