Around 2,284 consumer accounts in Iloilo City have already applied for the electricity lifeline rate program of the government that will take effect on Sept. 1.

“This is a specialized program of the government, which is targeted. So only those who are in need, the marginalized sector, can benefit,” said Raphael Dorilag, Energy Sourcing Manager of the More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), in an interview on Wednesday, Aug. 23.

It is open to members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and other indigent families as certified by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) with monthly consumption of 95 kilowatt-hours and below, and are not living in subdivisions or condominiums.

The number of enlisted accounts is lower when compared with the 11,370 target based on cross-matching with households enrolled with the 4Ps.

Dorilag said the implementation of the lifeline rate used to be automatic for those with consumption below 95 kilowatt-hours (kWh).

With the targeted implementation, the subsidy will only cater to household members of the 4Ps as long as they are in the program and three years, subject to renewal, for other indigent non-4Ps families.

“Actually, DOE (Department of Energy) and ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission) are very aggressive in the campaign. MORE Power was their role model because we are very aggressive in our campaign to include all 4Ps members,” he said.

Dorilag said they are bringing the registration down to the barangay level rather than wait for their clients to visit their office.

He added that the application will continue even after the program takes effect on Sept. 1.

Meanwhile, consumers continue to enjoy a reduction in their electricity bills since the rate went up to P14.84/kWh for residential in Nov. 2022.

Dorilag said the reduction in the electricity rate for eight straight months was due to the decline in the rate of power generators.

Effective Aug. 18, the rate for residential consumers was P10.98/kWh; P10.98/kWh for commercial, P10.20/kWh for industrial, and P9.47/kWh for government.Perla Lena/PNA