The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has enjoined anew all electric cooperatives (ECs) in the country to provide consumers a grace period and staggered payment for electricity bills falling due within the community quarantine period.
NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong issued Memorandum No. 2020-047, endorsing the recent advisory of the Department of Energy (DOE) on providing a grace period to all power sector bills falling due during the community quarantine period.
In issuing the memorandum, Administrator Masongsong also cited Republic Act No. 11494, also known as the “Bayanihan to Recover As One Act,” which reaffirmed the existence of a continuing national emergency.
The directive is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No.1021, extending the state of calamity declaration throughout the country for one year, or until September 12, 2021, due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The proclamation, signed on September 16, 2020, enjoined all government agencies and local government units to cooperate and mobilize the necessary resources to undertake critical, urgent, and appropriate disaster response aid and measures in a timely manner to curtail and eliminate the threat of COVID-19.
In issuing the memorandum, Administrator Masongsong also cited Republic Act No. 11494, also known as the “Bayanihan to Recover As One Act,” which reaffirmed the existence of a continuing national emergency.
The directive is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No.1021, extending the state of calamity declaration throughout the country for one year, or until September 12, 2021, due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The said law directs the implementation of a minimum of 30-day grace period and staggered payment without interests, penalties, and other charges to all payments due within the period of the community quarantine in the entire electric power value chain.
“All electric cooperatives are enjoined to abide by the directives, specifically the implementation of a 30-day grace period and staggered payment for unpaid bills, particularly those that fall due within the community quarantine period,” the NEA chief said.
The NEA supervises 121 electric cooperatives all over the country.