Gov’t eyes automatic inclusion of poor families in discounted power program

The Department of Energy (DOE) is working to widen the reach of its Lifeline Rate program by pushing for the automatic inclusion of more low-income families, particularly the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin revealed that only around 330,000 out of the 4.5 million 4Ps households are currently availing of the electricity subsidy, mainly due to the burdensome application process. 

Speaking during the post-SONA discussions in San Juan City, Garin said many families are discouraged by the paperwork and the cost of submitting requirements to their power providers.

To apply for the discounted rate—available to households consuming less than 100 kilowatt hours monthly—4Ps beneficiaries must personally file applications with their distribution utilities, present valid IDs, and in some cases, travel long distances just to complete the process.

To fix this, the DOE and the National Electrification Administration will meet with the DSWD and DILG to streamline and simplify enrollment. 

One key proposal is to automatically qualify 4Ps members and those listed in the Listahanan, the government’s official database of poor households.

“We’re looking at ways to expand the Lifeline Rate’s coverage by improving the system,” Garin said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier underscored this initiative in his fourth SONA, affirming the government’s intent to ease the electricity costs of vulnerable sectors—especially as inflation continues to strain household budgets.