‘Murang Kuryente’, 4Ps, 2 other bills get Senate approval

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a measure aimed at reducing the cost of electricity, and three other bills, including one that will institutionalize the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino (4Ps) program.

Senate Bill (SB) 1950 or the Murang Kuryente Bill, once enacted into law, will source the government shares from the Malampaya fund to pay the debts of the National Power Corporation (NPC) that is now being charged to consumers’ monthly electricity bill.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Energy, said tapping the said funds from the Malampaya natural gas project could save consumers more than P0.8474 per kilowatt hour.

Meanwhile, three other measures also received approval from the Senate.

The upper chamber approved on third and final reading a bill that seeks to institutionalize the 4Ps as a regular program to reduce poverty.

“Cutting the cycle of poverty of and giving the poor the ability to improve their lives through the 4Ps program will enable them to contribute to the development of our country,” Senator Leila de Lima, sponsor and author of the bill, said in a statement.

Under the SB 2117, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will revalidate, every three years, qualified beneficiaries through a standard targeting system.

The bill also provides that all beneficiaries shall be automatically covered by the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP).

Another proposed bill that was passed by the Senate on Monday was SB 2186.

Senator JV Ejercito, sponsor of the bill, said that it aims to update and strengthen Republic Act 3573, “which requires all individuals and health facilities to report notifiable diseases to national and local health authorities.”

“Numerous scientific and medical breakthroughs have happened since the enactment of Act No. 3573. New diseases and epidemics had been discovered,” Ejercito said in a statement.

“However, the law has remained untouched. The list of reportable or communicable diseases under the law has not been updated for nine decades,” he added.

Under the said bill, the Department of Health is assigned to regularly update as well as issue “a list of nationally notifiable diseases and health events of public health concern.”

The Senate has also approved a bill that would establish a community-based monitoring system (CBMS) to help the government’s efforts in reducing poverty in the country.

Under SB 2172 or the Community-Based Monitoring System Act, a regular monitoring system will serve as a nationwide data bank that would be used by national government agencies and local government units to formulate and implement programs aimed at alleviating poverty. /gsg