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Jennifer Rendon - The Philippine Star
March 8, 2026 | 12:00am
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) strengthened its collaboration with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to provide free electricity for qualified Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries through the Expanded Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program (LRSP), which was launched today in two separate events in Iloilo City and Iloilo province.
DSWD Western Visayas
ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Up to 149,896 family-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps in Western Visayas may benefit from the electricity bill discount provided by the government under the expanded Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program (LRSP).
This developed after the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Energy Regulatory Commission launched the LRSP in Guimbal, Iloilo on Friday.
Under the program, 4Ps beneficiaries consuming up to 50 kiloWatts per month are entitled to a full discount in their electricity bills.
The discount is provided under Republic Act 11552 or the Lifeline Rate Law.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said that under the expanded LRSP, 4Ps beneficiaries need not register to avail themselves of the subsidy.
If a beneficiary’s name matches with the records of the power distribution utility, he is automatically registered in the program and will not be required to submit other supporting documents.
The subsidy will be reflected in the electricity bill of the 4Ps beneficiary.
“You don’t need to go to the power cooperative to fill out a form. If your name is in the records of the DSWD and the power bill under your name showed you consumed 50 kiloWatts or less, you have nothing to pay,” Garin said.
She said that if the names do not match with the records of the power distributor, beneficiaries must consult with the utility, present documents such as the latest electricity bill and identification cards, and fill-out an application form.
Once approved, the subsidy will be reflected in the next electricity bill.
DOE Undersecretary Mylene Capongcol said that as of Feb. 12, up to 327,977 beneficiaries nationwide have registered for the program.
The DOE said that non-4Ps beneficiaries living below the poverty threshold set by the Philippine Statistics Authority are eligible for the subsidy.
