Families from poor and marginalized sectors who are part of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and maintain low electricity consumption will soon have their bills fully subsidized, following President Bongbong Marcos’ directive to broaden access to the Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program (LRSP).
According to the LRSP’s updated guidelines, 4Ps households using 50 kilowatt-hours or less each month will be granted a full discount on their electricity charges. Non-4Ps families that fall within the poverty threshold and record comparable low usage may likewise seek assistance under the program.
Recent Meralco rates for 2026 show average residential charges at about ₱13.17 per kilowatt-hour in February, following rate adjustments. At that level, a household using 50 kWh in a month would normally pay about ₱650 before taxes and other charges. Eligible households that stay within the subsidy threshold would have their bill fully covered.
Marcos announced the changes pm Saturday at the “Collective Response to Presidential Commitments in the Energy Sector” event at the Meralco Theater in Ortigas, Pasig City. He said the government acted after finding that many low-income families were missing out on existing subsidies.
The President noted that the LRSP has long been underutilized because of complex requirements. As of November 2025, only about 334,000 consumers were registered, a small fraction of the roughly three million beneficiaries of the 4Ps.
“Ngayong buwan, ipatutupad natin, kasama ng distribution utilities o DU, ang automatic registration ng lahat ng benepisyaryo ng 4Ps sa ilalim ng LRSP,” Marcos said.
Marcos also said the government simplified the Net-Metering Program to help households install solar panels and sell excess power back to the grid more easily.
“Now, after sitting down with the Department of Energy and the ERC, we have found a way to make it easier for our people to participate in the Net-Metering Program,” he said.
To speed up applications, the Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Public Works and Highways signed a joint memorandum circular requiring local government units to use standardized forms and meet mandated processing timelines.
The Energy Regulatory Commission also instructed utilities to complete interconnection work within 20 working days after a letter of interest is accepted.
Marcos said the changes aim to make electricity more accessible, affordable, and reliable for families who struggle with high power costs, especially those outside major urban centers.
