The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has expanded its grassroots consumer education campaign in Mindanao, holding a full-day training session in Dipolog City aimed at empowering senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and household electricity consumers with practical regulatory knowledge.

More than 100 senior citizens and PWDs attended the Continuing Regulatory Education for Stakeholders (CREST) program on December 1, where participants were guided through essential topics such as Power 101, how to read and understand electricity bills, consumer rights and obligations, and the rules on discounts and subsidies for qualified senior-citizen end-users.

Resource persons from the ERC’s Consumer Affairs Service–Mindanao Area Operations Division and the Regulatory Operations Service–Investigation and Enforcement Division for distribution utilities facilitated the discussions. The session also featured an open forum, allowing attendees to directly raise concerns on billing, service procedures, and available consumer remedies.

Former councilor Atty. Roger V. Asprer represented the Dipolog City local government at the activity and expressed support for initiatives designed to protect vulnerable electricity consumers. ERC Commissioner Marko Romeo L. Fuentes, who delivered the opening remarks, underscored the importance of bringing regulatory information directly to communities to promote inclusive access to ERC services nationwide.

Closing the program, Consumer Affairs Service–Mindanao Division Chief Atty. Arjay Louie Eu B. Cuanan thanked the participants and reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to accessible and responsive service, particularly for underserved sectors.

The Dipolog activity forms part of the ERC’s broader effort to strengthen consumer protection, improve public understanding of energy issues, and encourage wider stakeholder participation across the country.

How effective do you think these community-level programs are in addressing consumer issues with power utilities? Share your views.

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