Power cooperatives eye subsidizing energy needs of poor families –NEA

Electric cooperatives are studying a program on subsidizing the electricity consumption of poor Filipino households, after the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine has been extended to April 30, the National Electrification Administration said Saturday.

In a statement,  NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong said the proposed electricity subsidy program, dubbed as “Pantawid Liwanag” is aimed at helping poor Filipino electricity consumers in the countryside, whose primary sources of income and livelihoods have been severely disrupted by the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis.

"To show solidarity in dealing with this crisis, electric cooperatives are exploring all means to continuously deliver electricity services to their respective consumers, as well as mitigate the cost of electric consumption by accessing funds for the design and implementation of ‘Pantawid Liwanag,’" Masongsong said.

“Pantawid Liwanag” is a corporate social responsibility program led by the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA) in its effort to be one with the government’s endeavor to curb the socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the poorest of the poor.

The planned subsidy program adds to efforts of power distribution utilities to ease the impact of ECQ [enhanced community quarantine] on electricity consumers.

Such effort include the 30-day payment extension to electricity consumers, and the cancellation of surchages on late payments and power disconnections for consumers who failed to pay on time.

To date, there are over 90 electric cooperatives in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao that implemented the 30-day grace period for consumers to settle their electricity bills, according to NEA,

Luzon's ECQ, which the national government declared on March 16, was originally scheduled to run until April 12, but it has been extended until the end of the month.

President Rodrigo Duterte extended the quarantine to 11:59 p.m. of April 30 to curb the spread of coronavirus.  —Ted Cordero/LBG, GMA News