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4Ps members hopeful for the Lifeline Rate Program to ease electricity bill

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Meriam Lauron, 49 years old and a mother of four, would rely on the savings she would get from the Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program that provides discounted rates to low-income and marginalized electric consumers.

“Kung maka discount, dako dako ni nga tabang. Makapalit mi og bugas sa pamilya (If I would get discount, this would be a big help. We could buy rice for the family,” Meriam spontaneously expressed when asked of her opinion about this government program under the Republic Act (RA) 11552, or "An Act Extending and Enhancing the Implementation of the Lifeline Rate.”

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She lamented that they have a hard time paying for the P700 average monthly electric bill due to the meager and irregular income of the family. Her husband works as a construction worker, and she sells banana fritters in the neighborhood.

Josephine Serdina, 58 years old and a mother of five, is thankful for the benefit of the Lifeline Rate, saying that she would use the savings for daily needs such as food for her family.  

For Remy Ambasan, 49 years old and a widow, whose ten children are still living with her, wishes to avail the subsidy to use the savings as capital for a small livelihood venture such as selling of banana fritters.Remy currently works as a dishwasher in a carinderia with a daily pay of P150.00.

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Meriam, Josephine and Remy are among the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the Davao Region, who have initially enrolled in the Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program, hoping that this would ease the burden of the electricity rates.

The implementation of the Lifeline Rate Act is a joint effort of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the Department of Energy (DOE). The Act covers the 4Ps and Listahanan-identified poor households.

In Davao Region, DSWD-XI and DOE Mindanao Field Office partner with the local electric utilities such as the Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. (DLPC), Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, and Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative.

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Members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Davao City register in the Lifeline Rate Program to avail of discounted rates in their monthly electricity bill. The Department of Social Welfare and Development Region XI (DSWD-XI) and the Davao Light and Power Co. (DLPC) facilitate the registration. (Photo from DLPC)
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DLPC whose franchise areas cover Davao City and some areas in Davao del Norte, such as Panabo City, Carmen, Dujali, and Sto. Tomas, has recorded a total of 239 enrollees – a small portion of 65,000 4Ps beneficiaries under their franchise areas, which they targeted to register in the program.

In Davao region, a total of 250,000 active 4Ps beneficiaries are targeted to be registered in the program, DSWD-XI Pantawid Pamilya Division Chief Margie G. Cabido said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday, August 14.

Cabido said that they have been coordinating with DOE and the local electric distributors and cooperatives in the region to implement the program and draw in more beneficiaries.

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DOE-Mindanao Director Engr. Nilo Geroche said that the discount per electric consumption depends on the ERC-approved threshold system set by each electric distributor and cooperative.

“On how much they can avail of depends on the electric cooperatives. Davao Light is 100kWh. The threshold of the lifeline program of NORDECO is only 40kWh. DASURECO is only 30kWh,” he explained.

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DLPC President and COO Rodger S. Velasco said that their discount system has not changed since the release of the new guidelines. It ranges from 10% discount to 100%, depending on the actual monthly electric consumption.

He explained, “If you consume 20kWh and below, 100 percent discount, ang imong bayaran lang ana metric charges lang about five to six pesos. (you’ll only pay the metric charges of about five to six pesos. Then, your discount will gradually reduce as your consumption goes up.”

He added, “50kWh below is 50 percent, 100kWh pakog gyud ka sa box 10 percent nalang. Now kung mo-exceed ka og 100kWh, (let’s) say 101(kWh) zero discount na na siya (discount).”

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DSWD-XI Pantawid Pamilya Division Chief Margie G. Cabido, DOE-Mindanao Director Engr. Nilo Geroche and DLPC President and COO Rodger S. Velasco promote, through the media during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao, the Lifeline Rate Program that provides subsidies or discounted rates to low-income, marginalized electric consumers, such as the beneficiaries of 4Ps. (PIA-XI)
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Velasco further emphasized, “Dili boot pasabot nga kung molampas naka sa isa ka buwan og 100(kWh) mawala naka sa discounting, mawala ka sa lifeline, naa gihapon ka di lang ka ka-avail sa discount for the month. Then pagkasunod bulan kung nibaba na imong consumption to 80, 20 then in accordance sa tier nato sa discounting maka discount ka (It does not mean that if you’ll exceed to 100 in a month, you’ll be pulled out from the lifeline. You will still be there, but you can’t avail of the discount for the month. Then the next month, if your consumption reduces to 80, 20, then you can avail of the discount.”

Velasco said that with the low turnout of enrollees for the program as of this time, they are planning to reach out to the local government units, through the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC),  to attract more registrants.

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DSWD-XI Pantawid Pamilya Division Chief Margie G. Cabido reveals during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Mall that they are targeting to register a total of 250,000 active 4PS beneficiaries in the region to the Lifeline Rate Program. (PIA-XI)
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DSWD XI will also be pursuing community assemblies to encourage 4Ps beneficiaries to register in the program.

Cabido said they will be forming a community assembly where they will conduct orientation and proceed with registration and issuance of the certifications.”

DSWD-XI will also be placing a dropbox in designated areas like malls or barangays, and will be coordinating with barangay government units.

To register for the program, 4Ps beneficiaries need to submit their 4Ps ID, valid government ID, application form, 

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and their latest electric bill. While those non-4Ps indigent households need to submit a certificate of indigency, valid government ID, application form, and their latest electric bill.

DLPC also reminded those who wish to avail the program that they will only cater to those with electric connections under their own name.

“They need to have an account under their name so that they can avail of this subsidy,” DLPC Admin Head Reynold Felix said.

DOE, DSWD XI, and DLPC highly encouraged qualified customers to register and avail the program. (ASO&CLC/PIA-XI/ Photos from DLPC)

About the Author

Carina Cayon

Regional Editor

Region 11

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