Senators: Use Malampaya funds to subsidize power cost

MANILA, Philippines - Opposition senators called on the administration on Friday to look into ways to subsidize or reduce power rates as consumers complain about the P2 to P3 power rate increase per kilowatt/hour in Metro Manila households.

Sen. Nancy Binay recommended that the Malampaya funds be used to subsidize the prices of electricity. She also said that in the long-term, the government should expand its energy sourcing portfolio.

Binay joined many consumers who are again taking the burden of a new power rate hike this Christmas season.

Sen. Juan Victor Ejercito said the timing power rate increase is bad since many Filipinos are still recovering from the recent disasters including the devastation of typhoon Yolanda.

“Instead of helping our kababayans get back on their feet, it seems that they were given additional burden upon their shoulders,” Ejercito said.

Sen. Vicente Sotto III said the government should exert every effort to prevent an energy crisis.

Sotto, Ejercito and Binay are all part of the Senate minority group.

Meanwhile, majority member Sen. Grace Poe said the burden caused by the power rate hikes is felt by both the rich and the poor.

“Businessman or ordinary person, I hope the consumers will be allowed to have an option to pay installment or staggard just like in the United States where the payment options are available when power rates increase during winter season,” Poe said.

“We need to study whether we can tap Malampaya funds to subsidize the electric payments,” Poe said.

The Manila Electric Co (Meralco) announced that rates will go up by P2 to P3 per kWh in its generation charge. A household consuming P100 kWh a month will be getting a P200 to P300 increase once the adjustment takes effect.