Electric cooperatives allocated around P365 million to the Pantawid Liwanag, a program that will benefit lifeline or low-income consumers, the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association said Monday.
Philreca, the national association of 121 electric cooperatives throughout the entire Philippines, estimates the Pantawid Liwanag program to initially require at least P250 million before it was increased to P365 million as more electric cooperatives joined the program.
“A partial estimate of P365 million has been allocated already by ECs to support this program…At least three million consumers do not have to worry about their electricity bill this quarantine period. They do not have to be concerned about how to pay for their electricity consumption–a basic need–as their electric cooperatives will be paying for their bills through the Pantawid Liwanag Program,” Philreca said in a statement.
Pantawid Liwanag seeks to aid the member-consumer-owners of electric cooperatives that are categorized as “lifeline consumers,” or those who live below the poverty line and use electricity not exceeding 50 kWh based.