PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has announced that low-income and marginalized families now have easier access to electricity subsidies.
President Marcos said the application process has been simplified for the Net-Metering Program, allowing households to install solar panels and sell excess power to the grid faster than before.
“Sa madaling salita: mas malinaw ang patakaran at mas mabilis ang proseso. This Administration will continue to work hard and hand in hand with the private sector in crafting processes, policies that make electricity accessible, affordable, and reliable,” President Marcos said during the “Collective Response to Presidential Commitments In the Energy Sector” held at the Meralco Theater in Ortigas, Pasig.
The President said he was heartened to see the government and key stakeholders, like the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) working to alleviate the burdens of the people by expanding electrification coverage, boosting capacity and making electricity more affordable.
The President said the Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program (LRSP) for low-income and marginalized households that have difficulty paying their electricity bills at full cost, has been underutilized for a long time due to complicated requirements.
As of November 2025, only around 334,000 consumers are registered under the LRSP, which is only about 11 percent of the around three million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
“Ngayong buwan, ipatutupad natin, kasama ng distribution utilities o DU, ang automatic registration ng lahat ng benepisyaryo ng 4Ps sa ilalim ng LRSP,” President Marcos declared.
“Ito ang uri ng pamahalaang ating itinataguyod. Hindi dapat ang Pilipino ang naghahabol sa tulong. Ang tulong ang dapat ang lumapit sa mga Pilipino.”
The President also said the new lifeline consumption threshold would make applying the discount more equitable, wherein beneficiaries of 4Ps with monthly electricity consumption of 50 kilowatt-hour (kWh) or less will get 100 percent discount.
Low-income families who are not covered by 4Ps but fall under the poverty threshold and with minimal electricity consumption may register with LRSP, said the President.
Citing his personal experience, President Marcos said that while the Net-Metering Program has been around for more than a decade, the lack of clear rules and capacity-building for electric cooperatives made it frustrating to apply for net metering.
The program enables households and businesses to install renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, and sell surplus electricity back to the grid—lowering their bills while contributing to the power supply.
“Now, after sitting down with the Department of Energy and the ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission), we have found a way to make it easier for our people to participate in the Net-Metering program,” the Chief Executive announced.
To expedite the application process, the DOE, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG,) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have signed a Joint Memorandum Circular so local government units would use standardized application forms and comply with a mandated turnaround time.
The ERC also directed distribution utilities to complete the interconnection process within 20 working days from the acceptance of the letter of interest, added the President.
President Marcos recognized the continued support of MERALCO, the country’s largest distribution utility, for its critical role in advancing the country’s energy goals.
“From the Terra Solar Project, which will significantly expand renewable capacity through large-scale solar and battery storage, to the electrification of remote communities and supporting our net-metering and lifeline rate programs, your initiatives help many Filipinos gain access to energy,” said the President.
President Marcos encouraged all Filipinos to take full advantage of these initiatives to secure a more stable and sustainable future for their families. PCO
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