President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has declared that marginalized and low-income households in the Philippines will find it easier to receive electricity subsidies through streamlined processes and automatic registration programs.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced on February 14, 2026, that low-income and marginalized families in the Philippines will now benefit from simplified access to electricity subsidies aimed at helping them afford their energy bills. Speaking at the “Collective Response to Presidential Commitments in the Energy Sector” event held at Meralco Theater in Ortigas, Pasig City, Marcos detailed reforms to the Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program (LRSP). This program assists households that struggle to pay electricity bills at full cost but had previously suffered from complicated registration requirements leading to underutilization. As of November 2025, only about 334,000 consumers were registered under the LRSP, representing roughly 11% of the estimated 3 million beneficiaries of the national Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). In response, the government has now moved to implement automatic registration of all 4Ps beneficiaries into the LRSP, significantly expanding coverage. The President also announced a new lifeline consumption threshold granting a 100% discount on electricity bills for 4Ps beneficiaries consuming 50 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or less monthly. Low-income families outside the 4Ps but who fall under the poverty threshold and use minimal electricity can also register for subsidies. Additionally, Marcos highlighted improvements to the Net-Metering Program, which incentivizes households to install solar panels and sell surplus power back to the grid. These changes involve cooperative efforts between the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), formalized through a Joint Memorandum Circular. This directive mandates local government units to use standardized application forms and ensure a set turnaround time. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) further requires distribution utilities to complete the interconnection process within 20 working days from the acceptance of the consumer’s letter of interest. These reforms aim to make electricity more affordable, accessible, and reliable for vulnerable populations, reflecting the current administration’s commitment to energy equity and sustainable development.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/976560/marcos-poor-now-have-easier-access-to-electricity-subsidies/story/
