SP Gatchalian calls for reforms to lower electricity costs

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Saturday called for urgent reforms to lower electricity costs amid sluggish economic growth and the country’s increasing exposure to global energy shocks.

“If we want to revitalize our economy and give real financial relief to Filipino families and small businesses, we need to bring down the cost of electricity,” Gatchalian said in a statement.

The Senate chief said generation and system loss charges are pass-through costs reflected in consumers’ electricity bills and should be subject to greater transparency and justification.

The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by a slower 2.3% in the second quarter of 2026.

“The country’s reliance on imported oil exposes Filipinos to higher global energy prices that drive up fuel and electricity costs,” Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian earlier filed Senate Bill No. 2350, which seeks to prohibit distribution utilities from imposing system loss charges on consumers and remove the value-added tax on electricity sales.

He also filed Senate Resolution No. 581 seeking to look into the absence of regular fuel cost audits amid rising generation charges, with the aim of strengthening regulatory oversight of the power generation sector. —VBL, GMA News