Nearly 6 million Filipinos to enjoy subsidized power for another 30 years

Nearly six million poor Filipino households will receive subsidized power for another 30 years following the approval of the implementing rules and regulations of a law extending and enhancing the implementation of the lifeline rate.

The Energy Regulatory Commission, the Department of Energy and the Department of Social Welfare and Development jointly signed the IRR of Republic Act No. 11552 on Oct. 28.

RA 11552 is also known as “An Act Extending and Enhancing the Implementation of the Lifeline Rate, Amending for the Purpose Section 73 of Republic Act. No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2021″.

Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said, “the lifeline rate program in the Philippines is one of the best-designed lifeline rate programs in the world; ours is better targeted.”

The DOE was tasked to formulate and promulgate the policy guidelines of RA 11552, ensuring the law and its IRR are lawfully implemented.

This is consistent with the Marcos administration’s commitment to seeing to it that the benefits of the government’s energy policies and programs are felt by the poorest of the poor.

An amendment on Section 73 of the EPIRA Law revamps the 20-year coverage subsidy provision to electricity consumers, extending subsidy timeline by 30 years.

This means that those from the marginalized sector who use electricity will continue to enjoy government subsidies in their electricity bill for 30 more years after the first 20 years in the original RA is completed.

ERC records show that an average of P541 million per month was given to beneficiaries of the lifeline rate program in the first six months of the year.

The discounts vary depending on the lifeline programs per distribution utility computation approved by the ERC.

Household beneficiaries under the “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program” Act covered by the master list of the DSWD is the priority among the end users of the extended subsidy timeframe.

The 4Ps is aimed at national poverty reduction through the provision of cash transfer to impoverished households to improve health, nutrition and education.

ERC chairperson and chief executive Monalisa Dimalanta said the agency would provide the criteria for qualifications of a marginalized end-user.

The DSWD would give the list of qualified household beneficiaries to ensure a uniform and objective procedure for identifying potential beneficiaries.

Dimalanta said the IRR is a product of effective inter-agency collaboration to deliver better public service.

The DOE and DSWD, in consultation with the Philippine Statistics Authority and other public and private stakeholders, with the approval of the Joint Congressional Energy Commission, will issue, adopt and promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the provisions of RA 11552.