Cordillera Administrative Region-Beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here may now enjoy electric bill discount under the Lifeline Rate Subsidy of the Energy Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy.
The Lifeline Rate Subsidy is a socialized pricing mechanism under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (Republic Act 9136) amended by the Lifeline Extension Act of 2022 also known as RA No. 11552 where low-income captive customers, such as the 4Ps beneficiaries, are given discounted rates.
“This is good news for our 4Ps beneficiaries. The subsidy would be a big help in their electricity consumption needs,” DSWD FO CAR Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said.
Although the power discounts may vary based on the guidelines of the Distribution Utilities (DUs) or electric service providers, the 4Ps beneficiaries may enjoy around 20-100 percent discount on their electric bills depending on their electricity consumption.
Under the law, households with 51-70 kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption are entitled to 35 percent discount, while those with 71-100 kWh of electric consumption can have a 20 percent discount.
Households are entitled to a 50 percent discount if they have a 21-50 kWh consumption, while those with 0-20 kWh consumption may enjoy a 100 percent discount.
Meanwhile, Regional 4Ps Coordinator and Division Chief Fatima D. Florendo added that the list of beneficiaries was already provided with the DUs in the provinces.
“As early as June this year, we have already been coordinating with the electric service providers or the DUs in the different provinces in the region. We have also included the lifeline rate subsidy as a rider topic in the Family Development Session of the beneficiaries,” Florendo said.
Meanwhile, Ms. Cecilia Uyami, one of the beneficiaries from Barangay Alno, La Trinidad, Benguet testified that her family has already been given a 50% discount in their electric bills for the past three months.
“Dakkel ti tulong na daytoy a discount iti electric bill me. Nagsubmit kami lang ti application me idjay opisina ti BENECO idjay Baguio ket na-approve an met a dagus (The discount is a big help for our electric bill. We just submitted our application documents at the office of BENECO in Baguio and it was immediately approved,” shared Uyami.
Since July 2023, the DUs in the region have already been accepting applications for the Lifeline Rate subsidy.
The DSWD FO CAR is encouraging those 4Ps beneficiaries who did not yet avail of the subsidy to apply at the nearest electric cooperatives or DUs in their area. The 4Ps beneficiaries may present their 4Ps ID or other valid government-issued ID, latest electricity bill, and accomplished application form which can be obtained from the electric cooperatives. ### DSWD-CAR Social Marketing Unit – Marlo C. Abyado Jr., 4Ps Information Officer
