Jonathan Frederic De Santos

People walk along a neighborhood with electric meters and wires hanging overhead in Manila. October 09, 2018. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program) beneficiaries will be included in the government’s Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program for discounter power rates beginning this month.This was announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. before power sector stakeholders at Meralco event Saturday, February 14.He said that as of November 2025, only 334,400 are registered for electricity subsidies. That is around 11% of 3 million 4Ps beneficiaries.He said that was because of the stringent requirements for the program. “Mahirap ka na nga, kailangan mo pang patunayan na mahirap ka (The poor have to prove that they are poor),” the president said.The lifeline rate is a subsidized rate given to qualified low-income consumers who are financially unable to pay their electricity bills at full cost.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/2/11/lawmakers-eye-reducing-vat-on-power-to-reduce-electricity-costs-1632">Lawmakers eye reducing VAT on power to reduce electricity costs</a></div>The chief executive said they have now simplified the rules to reach more households, assuring the public that a new lifeline consumption threshold would make applying the discount more equitable.Under the program, 4Ps beneficiaries with monthly electricity consumption of 50 kilowatt-hour (kWh) or less will not have to pay. Low-income families who fall under the poverty threshold set by the Philippine Statistics Authority but who are not covered by the 4Ps and who have minimal electricity consumption may register with the program.“Ito ang uri ng pamahalaang ating itinataguyod. Hindi dapat ang Pilipino ang naghahabol sa tulong. Ang tulong ang dapat ang lumapit sa mga Pilipino,” Marcos said.<div>NET-METERING </div>The president also took note of the ‘lack of clear rules’ under the Net-Metering program, citing personal experience.“I myself in Ilocos Norte installed on our house solar panels. And what I learned based on personal experience was that it was very hard to sell excess electricity to the grid, only because the procedures were not in place,” he said.“This program has been around for more than a decade, institutionalized under Republic Act No. 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act, but the lack of clear rules and capacity-building for electric cooperatives made it so frustrating to apply for net metering,” he added.Marcos said initiatives have been made to make it easier for people to participate in the Net-Metering program such as the Joint Memorandum Circular between the DOE, DILG and DPWH that directs local government units to use standardized application form and follow the stipulated turnaround time for completed requirements.“Kasabay nito, inutusan ng ERC ang mga DU na tapusin ang interconnection process sa loob ng 20 working days mula sa pagtanggap ng letter of interest,” he added.Marcos further extended gratitude to Meralco as the country’s largest distribution utility in affirming its support to the advancement of the  national energy agenda through its various programs.

The lifeline rate is a subsidized rate given to qualified low-income consumers who are financially unable to pay their electricity bills at full cost.

The lifeline rate is a subsidized rate given to qualified low-income consumers who are financially unable to pay their electricity bills at full cost.

Marcos: 4Ps households automatically registered in electricity subsidy program

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Marcos: 4Ps households automatically registered in electricity subsidy program

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 14, 2026 01:16 PM PHT

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Updated Feb 15, 2026 09:24 AM PHT

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Meralco

Feridnand Marcos Jr.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program

4Ps

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