The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII urged beneficiaries under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to avail themselves of the Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program.

“We are calling 4Ps beneficiaries, especially those who have electric connections, to avail of this Lifeline Rate subsidy as it will help them save some money from their monthly expenses,” said DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero.

Director Lucero advised 4Ps beneficiaries to visit distribution utilities or electric cooperatives in their area to apply for the subsidy program.

For 4Ps partner beneficiaries, they may present their 4Ps ID or other valid government-issued ID containing the signature and address of the electric consumer, the completed application form, and their recent electricity bill.

During the first Lifeline Rate Caravan in the Central Visayas region on December 9, 2023, 829 4Ps beneficiaries from Toledo City and Carcar City, Cebu, applied for the Lifeline Rate subsidy program.

The caravan was made possible through partnerships with the DSWD, the Department of Energy (DOE), the Energy Regulation Commission (ERC), Cebu Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CEBECO) I and III, and the local government units (LGUs) of Toledo and Carcar.

Other lifeline rate caravans in different provinces are also scheduled from December 2023 until January 2024.

The subsidized rates are given to low-income electric consumers, such as the beneficiaries of 4Ps and Listahanan-identified poor households, using electricity below the distribution utilities’ pegged number of kilowatt-hours per month, and those that consume a little bit over the threshold can avail of the discount.

The subsidy is provided under Republic Act 11552, or an Act Extending and Enhancing the Implementation of the Lifeline Rate. ###

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