Expanded lifeline subsidy to benefit 4Ps families

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Around 149,896 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Western Visayas could benefit from the government’s expanded Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program, which provides up to a 100% electricity discount for qualified low-income households.

Officials from the Department of Energy, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Energy Regulatory Commission launched the full implementation of the expanded program on Friday, March 6, in Guimbal, Iloilo.

Under the program, 4Ps families consuming 0 to 50 kilowatt-hours per month are automatically entitled to a full discount on their electricity bills within the consumption threshold, as provided under Republic Act No. 11552, or the Lifeline Rate Law.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said that under the expanded program, 4Ps beneficiaries no longer need to register to avail themselves of the subsidy.

She said beneficiaries whose names match distribution utility records are automatically enrolled and no longer need to submit supporting documents.

She said the subsidy will be reflected in the electricity bill once the records are validated.

“From now on, you don’t have to go to the electric cooperatives or companies to fill up a form. What we did was we talk to the DSWD. Kung nandyan yung pangalan niyo sa DSWD at sa inyo nakapangalan yung bill and if you’re consuming 50 kWh or less, libre na,” she said.

If the beneficiary’s name does not match the distribution utility records, the beneficiary must coordinate with the distribution utility, bring the latest electricity bill and a valid ID, and fill out an application form for manual processing.

The subsidy will be reflected in the electricity bill once the application is approved.

For households whose monthly consumption exceeds 50 kilowatt-hours, the discount will continue on a graduated scale based on the approved national lifeline threshold.

The current discount structure grants 100% for 0-50 kWh, 35% for 51-70 kWh, and 20% for 71-100 kWh.

DOE Undersecretary Mylene Capongcol said that as of Feb. 12, 2026, around 327,977 beneficiaries had registered, equivalent to 10.6% of the expected 3,095,544 registrants.

The DOE clarified that non-4Ps households living below the poverty threshold set by the Philippine Statistics Authority and within the lifeline rates set by the ERC may also qualify for the subsidy.

It was gathered that of those registered, 265,592, or 81%, are 4Ps members, while 62,168, or 19%, belong to families living below the poverty threshold.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Marites Maristela said that around 36,000 of those who availed themselves of the program are from Western Visayas.

In September 2023, only 57,886 households, or 1.87% of the target beneficiaries, had registered under the program.

By October 2024, the number had increased to 303,193, or 9.79%.

Under ERC Resolution No. 2, Series of 2026, the government imposed a uniform national lifeline subsidy rate of PHP 0.01 per kWh to be collected from subsidizing consumers nationwide.

The resolution designates distribution utilities and the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, for directly connected customers, as collection agents, while the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. serves as administrator of the Lifeline Subsidy Fund.

The expanded program stems from a January 2026 joint resolution of the DOE, DSWD and ERC that institutionalized the automatic enrollment of qualified 4Ps households, replacing the previous manual application system that had limited participation.

Even if monthly consumption is 50 kilowatt-hours or less, marginalized end-users living in condominiums or subdivision projects, except government housing projects and similar developments, are not qualified to avail themselves of the program.

Also disqualified are those availing themselves of net-metering services and those whose consumption falls within the threshold but who are not considered qualified marginalized end-users.

Those convicted with finality for violating the Anti-Pilferage of Electricity and Theft of Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Act of 1994 are likewise not qualified for the subsidy.