Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Progressive groups Akbayan and Sentro on Thursday, July 16, staged a protest in front of a Meralco office along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, calling on the government to extend the suspension of electricity service disconnections amid soaring power rates. Akbayan handout photo

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784188092521HNVSRIjb0AAQVN3.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Progressive groups Akbayan and Sentro on Thursday, July 16, 2026, staged a protest in front of a Meralco office along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, calling on the government to extend the suspension of electricity service disconnections amid soaring power rates. <em>Akbayan handout photo</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Progressive groups Akbayan and Sentro on Thursday staged a protest in front of a Meralco office along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, calling on the government to extend the suspension of electricity service disconnections amid soaring power rates.</p><p>Carrying placards, the activists held a program on the street under the scorching sun as they lamented the electric company&#x27;s &quot;bill shock.&quot;</p><p>Akbayan President Rafaela David said the suspension of service disconnections should continue beyond July for as long as electricity bills remain too difficult for households to pay.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/10/meralco-power-rates-going-up-in-july-1258">Meralco power rates going up in July</a></div><p>&quot;It’s unfair to disconnect families from a very essential service when some charges on their bills are questionable,&quot; David said in a statement.</p><p>&quot;As long as electricity bills continue to shock consumers, the suspension of service disconnections must be extended. People should not have to choose between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table.&quot;</p><p>In a statement, Meralco said it is &quot;open to constructive dialogues and public discussions&quot; and that the suspension of disconnection over unpaid bills remains in effect.</p><p>It also said it is &quot;addressing the concerns of all customers and we have been diligently reviewing and resolving every customer concern brought to our attention.&quot;</p><p>The activists also<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/5/29/several-groups-urge-congress-to-probe-meralco-charges-1718"> called on Congress</a> to investigate Meralco&#x27;s billing charges through House Resolution No. 995, filed by Akbayan lawmakers.</p><p>The resolution seeks an inquiry into generation, transmission, system loss, lifeline subsidy charges, taxes, and other pass-through costs included in consumers&#x27; monthly electricity bills.</p><p>David noted that despite the continuing burden on consumers, the measure was not included in the agenda during the recent special session of the House of Representatives.</p><p>“No family should lose electricity simply because they cannot keep up with bills that continue to rise month after month for unexplainable reasons,” David said. “The suspension of service disconnections must be extended for as long as the Filipinos need, and while Congress investigates these charges through House Resolution No. 995.”</p><p>Meralco said it has &quot;been consistently explaining that recent bill increases were primarily driven by higher electricity consumption due to record-high temperatures, as well as higher fuel prices affecting the global energy market amid the continuing conflict in the Middle East&quot;, factors that it said it has no control over. </p><p>Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Niño Juan said the commission will <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/14/erc-says-open-to-extending-no-disconnection-policy-1725">deliberate on the possibility of extending</a> the suspension of service disconnections in response to complaints over high electricity bills in recent months.</p><p>&quot;Kung kakayanin pa naman, bakit hindi na ating palawigin pa sa loob ng mga isang buwan nang sa ganoon ay magkaroon naman din ng kaunting kalutasan doon sa problema ng ating mga kababayan na nahihirapan silang makabayad on time doon sa kanilang bills,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/5/6/erc-orders-suspension-of-power-disconnection-until-july-1618">ERC orders suspension of power disconnection until July</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ni0TM4mAEQw?si=TWtGvaIRdnfvWeyH" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Progressive groups Akbayan and Sentro on Thursday staged a protest in front of a Meralco office along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, calling on the government to extend the suspension of electricity service disconnections amid soaring power rates.</p>

Progressive groups Akbayan and Sentro on Thursday staged a protest in front of a Meralco office along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, calling on the government to extend the suspension of electricity service disconnections amid soaring power rates.

Rallyists troop to Meralco, seek extension of disconnection suspension amid soaring power rates

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Rallyists troop to Meralco, seek extension of disconnection suspension amid soaring power rates

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 16, 2026 03:55 PM PHT

Read More:

Akbayan

Sentro

Meralco

electricity

ERC

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