Arroyo to dole out P500 to 4M lifeline electricity users

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is set to launch Tuesday the P2-billion subsidy program for four million lifeline electricity consumers to help them pay their bills, radio dzBB reported. Radio dzBB's Aileen Intia said the government allotted a P2-billion fund which will be distributed to consumers belonging to the lowest electricity consumption bracket. The report said each household, which will be chosen for the program, will be receiving a one-time grant of a P500 cash subsidy. The radio report said the program entitled "Katas ng VAT, Pantawid Kuryente" aims to provide some relief to poor families amid the rising electricity rates. The Presidential Task Force on Energy, during their meeting Monday, recommended to the President the subsidy for the lifeline beneficiaries. "In the rural areas, the conduit for the P500 cash transfer would be the rural electrical cooperatives. In the Meralco franchise areas the conduit would be the Land Bank and its branches all over Metro Manila as well as in Region 3 and 4a," Social Welfare Sec. Esperanza Cabral said Monday night. "Each small electricity user would be given a cash subsidy of P500 to aid them in the electrical expenses that they are incurring because of the increase in electrical price," she added. Cabral said the P2 billion, which would be derived from the P4 billion value added tax proceeds that was initially identified by the government, was intended for the cash transfer program where the poorest of the poor is given monthly allowance by the government. The official those who will be benefited are consumers that are served by the Meralco and other electric cooperatives. Also on Monday, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the chairman of the Philippine National Oil Company- Development and Management Corporation ad the Secretary of Budget had been tapped to jointly monitor this program and report to the President every quarter. Ermita said all local government units are also encouraged to participate in project monitoring. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV