MANILA, Philippines – Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday called on power distributor Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to extend its installment-based payment scheme to help its customers cope with economic difficulties due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hontiveros said implementing stricter payment policies might lead to a “disconnected nation” that will make life harder for poor families and derail efforts to revive the country’s economy.

“Hindi maganda na ngayong 2021, maliban sa COVID-19 ay magkaroon din ng epidemiya ng tanggalan ng kuryente sa ating bansa,” she said in a statement.

“Mas mahihirapan umahon ang bansa mula sa pandemya at sa bagsak na ekonomiya kung mas maraming Pilipino ang mapuputulan ng kuryente sa kanilang mga kabahayan dahil sa mga polisiya ng Meralco,” she added.

Meralco earlier announced it has begun sending out notices of disconnection to customers using 201 kilowatt-hours and more per month, and those who are behind in their monthly payments.

The power distributor also said it will be hiking power rates up to P8.7497 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) this year, which means that an average household consuming 200 kWh per month will be charged around an additional ₱55 in their bill.

Hontiveros said the disconnection policy combined with new rate adjustment in the generation charge is on top of the already high regular monthly electricity bills consumers must pay.

“Itong anunsyo ng MERALCO ay mistulang one-two-three punch sa ating mga kawawang consumer, na marami ngayon ay knock-out na sa mga utang, mahal na bilihin at kakulangan ng hanapbuhay dahil sa pandemya,” she said.

“Mas malaki na ang singil ng kuryente, andiyan pa ang panganib na matanggalan ng kuryente kapag hindi nakabayad ng buo. Baka maulit o mas malala ito sa ‘bill shock’ last year na inalmahan ng ating mga kababayan noong 2020,” she added.

Hontiveros expressed hope that MERALCO will stick to its corporate motto of “May liwanag ang buhay,” and work with the government towards programs that will prevent the denial of power services to many Filipinos who are struggling amid the pandemic.

“Electricity is an essential need lalo na ngayong may pandemya. Hindi siguro kalabisan na humiling pa ng makatwirang palugit. Bago ang lahat, kapakanan muna ng ating mga kababayan ang pangunahin na mas dapat inuuna, bago ang kita,” the senator said.

She also advised the power firm to work with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and explore the possibility of extending its debt restructuring program, which offers flexible or staggered payment options for consumers who are having difficulties paying their monthly power bills so that they could avoid disconnection.

“Siguro naman, hindi hamak na may kapasidad ang MERALCO, ang mga power suppliers at kanilang mga bangko na i-manage ang problema sa utang kumpara sa pinapasan ng mga consumers ngayon,” she said.

“Accommodating this installment-based payment scheme will also ensure that more Filipinos will not get disconnected and will remain as MERALCO’s customers, which will be beneficial in the long run,” she added.

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) shall be extending its no-disconnection policy until January 31, 2021.

This was announced by House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco yesterday referring to his letter to Meralco management dated November 30, requesting the electric company to consider such extension.

In a statement, Velasco said extending Meralco’s no-disconnection policy is in keeping with the “bayanihan” spirit amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“The extended grace period being given to our fellow Filipinos during the holiday season will provide much needed reprieve to those reeling from the devastating effects of the pandemic and natural calamities,” Velasco said.

In response, Meralco President and CEO Atty. Ray Espinosa informed Velasco in a December 14 letter that the company will extend its no-disconnection policy for unpaid bills from December 31, 2020 to January 31, 2021.

Espinosa said that the extended grace period will benefit over 3 million customers or 47 percent of the company’s total customer base.

“We hope that by this extended grace period to our customers, much needed relief and reprieve is provided to the most disadvantaged MERALCO franchise customers during this holiday season amidst the Covid-19 pandemic,” Espinosa’s letter to the House Speaker read.

Velasco, in turn, thanked Espinosa for “showing true bayanihan spirit and empathizing with the plight of our indigent countrymen.”

“This is how we overcome the devastating effects of this pandemic, with leaders from both private and public sectors working together to make lives better,” he added. — /mbmf

MANILA, Philippines – Inanunsiyo ngayong Miyerkules ng Manila Electric Company (Meralco) na may ipatutupad silang bawas sa singil sa kuryente para sa buwan ng Disyembre.

Ayon sa Meralco, nasa P0.0352 kada kilowatt hour (kWh) ang mababawas sa singil sa kuryente.

Katumbas ito ng P7 bawas sa bill ng mga kumukonsumo ng 200 kWh, P11 sa konsumong 300 kWh, P14 para sa 400 kWh, at P18 sa mga gumagamit ng 500 kWh na kuryente kada buwan.

Ayon sa kumpanya, ang bawas-singil ay bunsod ng pagbaba ng generation charge at wholesale electricity spot market.