Senator Bam Aquino has raised concerns over the implementation of the lifeline subsidy program for electricity, citing reports that many consumers are being forced to pay 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 processes behind the subsidy, which is anchored on Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).
According to Aquino, numerous poor and middle‑class families who are not covered by the government’s 4Ps program still need assistance, yet they end up shouldering cross‑subsidy charges that add ₱20 to ₱100 to their monthly bills.
He suggested that subsidies for electricity, along with other discounts such as those for senior citizens, should be sourced from the national budget instead of being passed on to other consumers.
