MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure that sets the socialized pricing mechanism or electricity lifeline rates for the poor “for a period of 50 years.”
On May 27, Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11552, a copy of which made public Monday, amending Section 73 of the Electricity Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (Epira).
In 2011, the Epira law’s “lifeline rate for qualified marginalized end-users” was extended for 10 years or until 2021.
The Epira law provides for the lifeline rate or a subsidized rate to low-income households or those below the poverty line who cannot afford to pay at full cost.
In particular, these are households w…
Keep on reading: Duterte amends Epira law; sets lifeline rates for poor ‘for a period of 50 years’