The Department of Energy (DOE) on Monday urged beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to register under the subsidized electricity rate program of government and continue to get discounts on their electricity bills.
The agency has identified 4.2 million households as 4Ps beneficiaries but registration for the 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 Lotilla said.
He did not detail existing registration figures but said the beneficiaries need only apply and register with their distribution utilities (DUs) or electric cooperatives to enjoy reductions in their monthly bills.
Lotilla said, for instance, that lifeline Manila Electric Co. households with zero to 20 kilowatt-hours (kWh) monthly consumption are granted 100 percent discount on the generation charge, including the systems loss, transmission and distribution charges except for the fixed metering charge of P5.
This means households will pay only P20 more or less in their electric bills.
Lotilla explained those who do not register with Meralco as lifeline users will pay more or less P250 a month, an amount that would otherwise be spent for other needs such as food.
“We are not imposing a deadline as to when consumers avail of the discounted rate. However, unless registered, households cannot avail of the benefits,” Lotilla stressed.
To apply for the lifeline program, households who are 4Ps beneficiaries submit a duly accomplished application form, their most recent electricity bill and any valid government-issued identification containing the signature and address of the consumer.
Other marginalized end-user applicants who are not in the 4Ps beneficiaries but belong to a household of at least five members and have a combined monthly income of P12,030 must present to their distribution utilities a certification by the local social welfare office issued within six months from filing of the application showing their family income, a duly accomplished form, their most recent electricity bill and any government-issued ID containing the signature and address of the consumer.
The DOE said the monthly income threshold vary for each franchise area as determined by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
