PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced Saturday a simplified process for low-income households to access electricity subsidies under the Net-Metering Program.
Marcos said the government has coordinated with distribution utilities to automatically enroll beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) into the Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program (LRSP).
”I am heartened to see that the government and key stakeholders, like Meralco, continue to work in alleviating the burdens of our people,” Marcos said during the “Collective Response to Presidential Commitments in the Energy Sector” at the Meralco Theater in Ortigas, Pasig.
As of November 2025, around 334,000 consumers are registered under the LRSP, representing about 11 percent of the estimated 3 million 4Ps beneficiaries nationwide.
”After all, progress in the energy sector — and in nation-building itself — rests on shared responsibility,” Marcos added.
The president said the new lifeline consumption threshold would make applying the discount more equitable; beneficiaries of 4Ps with monthly electricity consumption of 50 kilowatt-hours or less would get a 100-percent discount.
Low-income families who are not covered by 4Ps but fall under the poverty threshold and have minimal electricity consumption may register with the LRSP, he said.
Citing his personal experience, 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.
He said 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 (DOE) 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,” Marcos said.
To expedite the application process, the president said the DOE, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Department of Public Works and Highways 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, he said.
Marcos also 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,” he said.