Senator Bam Aquino has questioned the implementation of the lifeline subsidy program for electricity, citing complaints that many consumers are being forced to shoulder additional charges despite not being beneficiaries.
To address this, Aquino filed Senate Resolution No. 375, urging the Committee on Energy to investigate the funding and process of the subsidy under Republic Act No. 9136, also known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).
Aquino stressed that countless poor and middle-class families outside the 4Ps program still need assistance, yet they end up paying cross-subsidies that add ₱20 to ₱100 to their monthly bills.
He suggested that subsidies for electricity and other discounts, such as those for senior citizens, should be sourced from the national budget instead of being passed on to other consumers.
