Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Finance (DOF) to fast-track the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11371 or the ‘Murang Kuryente Act.’
According to a Manila Bulletin report, the ‘Murang Kuryente Act’ was drafted and approved by the Congress in a bid to make electricity more affordable to consumers by removing the National Power Corporation (NPC)’s Universal Charge for Stranded Debts (UCSD) and Universal Charge for Stranded Contract Costs (UCSCC) that are reflected on consumers’ monthly electricity bill.
A typical Filipino household pays ₱0.09 per kilowatt hour (kWh) and an additional ₱0.86 per kWh for UCSD and UCSCC. Gatchalian expressed that the implementation of the act will allow households consuming at least 200 kWh per month to save at least ₱172 per month or approximately ₱2,064 per year.
“Ibig sabihin, dapat sana ay bumaba na ang bill sa kuryente ngayong buwan. The more that we are delaying the issuance of the IRR, the more we are denying Filipinos of having cheaper electricity. This is a total disservice to our constituents,” Gatchalian was quoted as saying in the report.