Lawmakers from the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats have introduced a measure seeking to ease electricity expenses for low-income workers through significant bill discounts.
Led by former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez, the group filed the Ginhawa sa Kuryente Act (House Bill 8191), which proposes a 50% discount on electricity bills for qualified minimum wage earners.
Romualdez underscored the urgency of providing direct relief to struggling households:
“When a minimum wage earner works every day and still comes up short at the end of the month, we have a duty to deliver concrete relief—and one of the most direct ways is to cut power costs at home.”
The bill mandates automatic enrollment in the lifeline program for marginalized consumers, removing the need for households to apply.
Distribution utilities would monitor electricity usage and directly apply the discount to eligible consumers. Families consuming up to 50 kilowatt-hours per month would pay nothing for electricity.
The measure also covers low-income households that rent homes, share electricity bills, or do not have meters registered in their names.
House Deputy Speaker and Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin noted that the proposal forms part of the “Ginhawa Kit” legislative package, which aims to reduce electricity and internet costs while expanding economic opportunities for disadvantaged families.
The bill was co-authored by several lawmakers, including David Suarez, Jay Khonghun, Paolo Ortega, and Zia Alonto Adiong, along with 65 other members of the House.