The House of Representatives is launching an investigation into government-mandated programs that are passed on to consumers through power distributors like Meralco and various electric cooperatives.
The move follows a surge in public complaints regarding opaque and supposedly inequitable charges reflected in monthly billing statements.
Quezon City 4th District Representative Bong Suntay confirmed that the inquiry aims to dissect the legal foundations, current implementation, and potential policy overhauls of these billing practices.
“We will scrutinize these charges closely — legal basis, implementation, at kung may kailangang baguhin sa policy,” he declared.
Suntay pointed out that, in addition to perennial issues like system losses, regular consumers are shouldering the costs of government-led subsidies.
These include discounts for senior citizens and lifeline rates intended for beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
“Hindi pwedeng laging ang maayos magbayad ang napaparusahan. Hindi ito sustainable, at lalong hindi makatarungan,” he stressed.
The investigation will also cover other pass-on costs, such as universal charges and renewable energy-related fees, which have become a primary source of frustration for the riding public.
Suntay argued that social programs and specific policy mechanisms should be backed by clear, independent funding sources rather than being automatically billed to the general public.
Calling for immediate action from regulatory agencies, the lawmaker emphasized the need for transparency and fairness in the energy sector.
“Enough is enough. Hindi na pwedeng tuloy-tuloy ang pagpasa ng gastos sa mamamayan,” he said.