The Department of Energy (DOE) is encouraging household beneficiaries who are part of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to avail of the electricity lifeline rate program of the government to continue to receive discounts on their electricity bills.
“There are 4.2 million household beneficiaries of 4Ps, and the registration for lifeline subsidy remains very low. Only those who register will continue to receive a reduction in their electricity bills beginning August 2023,” Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla said in a statement.
The extent of the rate reduction would vary on the current rates of the distribution utilities (DUs).
Lifeline end-users with zero to 20 kilowatt-hours (kWh) in the franchise would be granted a 100% discount on the generation charges including transmission, system loss, and distribution charges of their bill, exempting the fixed metering charge of Php 5.00 which means that they only be paying an estimated Php 20.00 in their electric bill.
For lifeline consumers struggling to stretch their budget to reach the end of the month, Lotilla suggested applying to the program. The customers only need to register to their DUs or Electric Cooperatives (ECs) with their accomplished application form, any valid identification card (ID) that is issued by the government which should contain their address and signature, and their most recent electricity bill.
“If they do not avail of the program through Meralco, they will have to shell out more or less PhP250.00, an amount which could otherwise be spent for their other needs such as food,” the energy secretary said.
Marginalized end-user applicants, not included in the 4Ps program, with households consisting of at least five members and a combined monthly income of Php 12,030 or below, are required to additionally submit a certification from their local Social Welfare Development Office (SWDO). The certification should be issued within six months before the application and should prove their monthly income, in addition to other required documents.
Lotilla cleared that the department is not imposing a deadline, saying “We are not imposing a deadline on when the consumer could avail of the discounted rate. However, unless registered, they cannot avail of the benefits.”
