State-run think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) is urging the government to overhaul its energy subsidy frameworks, warning that design flaws are allowing wealthy households and profitable private resorts to capture millions of pesos intended for marginalized consumers. In...
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) expanded its list of tax-exempt power sector fees, a move aimed at preventing double taxation and lowering electricity bills for consumers amid volatile global energy markets. Under Revenue Memorandum Circular 60-2026 issued on June 4, the government’s main...
Malacañang said Congress should revisit the country’s lifeline rate system to ensure a fair and balanced distribution of electricity subsidies, amid growing concerns from consumers over rising power bills. Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said this as Meralco...
Senator Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV said on Tuesday, April 28 electricity subsidies and other mandated discounts should be funded through the national budget and not by consumers, particularly by low and middle-income households. Aquino, who has filed Senate Resolution No. 375, pointed ...
President Marcos announced simplified rules that will make electricity subsidies more accessible to poor households and streamline the application process for solar net-metering, allowing families to install panels and sell excess power to the grid more easily. Speaking at the “Collective...
Businessman Ramon S. Ang fearlessly tackled the issue of high electricity and fuel prices in the country compared to its neighbors during the Philippine Economic Briefing on Monday, May 27. Ang, widely known as RSA, used the panel discussions at the forum, which included Budget Secretary Amenah...
Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (Facebook) A ranking congressman is prodding local government unit (LGU) heads to help beef up participation in the Lifeline Rate program for the benefit of low-income consumers who find it a struggle...
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...
West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. said the company will put higher discounts on the water bills of low-income and low-consuming customers. Starting Jan. 1, 2024, Maynilad will launch the Enhanced Lifeline Program (ELP) as a way to extend greater discounts to marginalized...
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday, Sept. 6 said the decision to postpone the full implementation of the new lifeline rate program until January 2024 will enable the enrollment of more Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries. The full rollout of the...
Razon-led MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) has conducted on-site registration at the barangay level to entice 4Ps beneficiaries and other marginalized power consumers knowns as "lifeline consumers" to avail of electricity rate discounts mandated by law. The company said it will...
The Marcos Administration will roll out next month the Lifeline Rate program, which aims to benefit qualified low-income households to help them pay their electricity bills, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said. Meralco The Lifeline Rate is a subsidized rate given to...