Only 17,000 poor households apply for lifeline rates
Only 17,000 household-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) have so far registered to avail of discounted electricity rates monthly under the Department of Energy’s (DOE) lifeline rate program out of the 4.2-million target, the agency said on Friday. Assistant Energy Secretary Mario Marasigan warned that those not registered risked losing a 100-percent discount, particularly households consuming 20 kilowatt-hours of electricity every month. “The DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) gave us a list of 4 to 4.2 million household-beneficiaries under 4Ps. The current number of registered households is still very small,” Marasigan said at a press conference. The DOE’s lifeline rate program is a socialized pricing mechanism set by the Energy Regulatory Commission based on consumption threshold. The DOE and the DSWD have extended the registration deadline to September. —Meg J. Adonis
