Baguio: The Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) is urging beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) along with low-income families to take advantage of the cooperative's lifeline rate subsidy.
According to Philippines News Agency, Beneco currently has 354 registered beneficiaries who receive full exemption or discounts on their electricity consumption. Engr. Melchor Licoben, Beneco's general manager, stated that 4Ps members and low-income consumers who use 50 kilowatt-hours (kWh) monthly are eligible for a 100 percent discount on their electric bills. This initiative is an amendment to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) approved in February 2024, with full implementation set to begin with the March 2026 billing period.
Non-4Ps consumers using 50 kWh or less may also benefit from the subsidy, provided they obtain certification from the local Social Welfare and Development Office (SWDO) verifying their status as indigent or marginalized households. Qualified households consuming between 51-70 kWh can receive a 35 percent discount, while those consuming 71-100 kWh can receive a 20 percent discount. Standard senior citizen discounts of 5 percent for consumption up to 100 kWh per month are still applicable. However, Licoben emphasized that eligible consumers must register to avail of these discounts.
The subsidy is supported by non-lifeline consumers, who contribute one centavo per kilowatt-hour to maintain the fund. Any surplus or deficit in the collection will be managed by the fund's administrator to ensure the program's sustainability. Records from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) indicate that there are 6,500 4Ps beneficiaries in Baguio and 8,009 in Benguet.
Licoben explained that the Lifeline Rate Program, initially established under EPIRA, has been extended multiple times, with the most recent extension set for a 50-year period ending in 2071. Beneco has also announced a slight increase in power rates due to rising oil prices, which will be reflected in the April billing.
