All lifeline consumers of electricity nationwide will not have to pay for electricyu consumed for the months of March and April amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis in the country, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced.
In a virtual press conference aired over state-run PTV-4, Nograles said customers of electric cooperatives who consumed not more than 50 kilowatt-hours will be provided free electricity for the months of March and April.
“‘Yung mga tinatawag na lifeline consumer ng mga electric cooperative dito sa Luzon, maging sa Visayas at Mindanao…, libre na po ang inyong konsumo sa loob ng March to April billing period (To lifeline consumers of electric cooperatives in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, your electricity consumption for March to April billing period is now free),” Nograles, who is also the spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) facing the coronavirus crisis.
The Palace official said some 3 million poor Filipino consumers will benefit from the electricity subsidy program dubbed as “Pantawid Liwanag.”
Pantawid Liwanag, is a corporate social responsibility program led by the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc. (PHILRECA) and targets poor electricity consumers who are affected by the ongoing health crisis.
“Electric cooperatives are working on a program of subsidizing the electricity needs of lifeline consumers.”
In a statement issued on April 8, National Electrification Administration (NEA) administrator Edgardo Masongsong said electric cooperatives are working on a program to subsidize the electricity needs of lifeline consumers.
Nograles thanked NEA, PHILRECA, and the electric cooperatives for looking for ways to help the poor.
“Target na tulungan ng Pantawid Liwanag ang tatlong milyong mahihirap na consumer ng mga electric cooperative. Salamat NEA, PHILRECA at mga electric coop sa inyong tulong at ambag sa Bayanihang ito (Panatawid Liwanag intends to help three million poor consumers of electronic cooperatives. Thanks to NEA, PHILRECA, and electric cooperatives for your help),” he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier placed the entire Luzon under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The ECQ in Luzon was initially set to expire on April 13, but was extended until April 30.
“There is sufficient power supply in Luzon amid the ECQ in the entire island.”
Meanwhile, Nograles ensured that there is sufficient power supply in Luzon amid the extended ECQ.
“As for the power demands in Luzon, the Department of Energy reports that we have an available capacity of 11,795 megawatts, which is greater than the actual peak demand of 7,323 megawatts in Luzon. This means we currently have an excess capacity of 4,742 megawatts,” he said.
Other local governments in Visayas and Mindanao have also imposed their respective ECQs following recorded COVID-19 cases in their respective localities.
More than 90 electric cooperatives in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao have so far provided a 30-day grace period for their customers to settle their electricity charges, on top of the cancelation of surcharges and power disconnections for those who have failed to pay on time.