Manila Philippines — Several progressive groups staged a protest against amid the increase in electricity bills this month.
The Gabriela Women’s party and several other progressive groups strongly oppose the imposition of additional electricity charges by the Manila Electric Cooperative (MERALCO).
MERALCO has announced an increase in electricity rates ranging from over P0.46 per kilowatt hour to P11.41 per kilowatt hour.
Higher from about P11 pesos per kilowatt hour last month.
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According to Representative Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, Filipinos will only bear the additional burden of the additional electricity bill, which is also affected by the meager income and high prices of goods.
“The recent increase in electricity rates places an undue burden on ordinary Filipino families, who are already struggling with meager wages and rising living costs,” said Brosas.
It is said that the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and Meralco are only using the alert status of the Luzon grid to justify the new increase in electricity charges.
“NGCP and Meralco are still using the alerts to justify the increase in electricity bills. But the patience of the Filipinos for such tricks is already on red alert,” added Brosas.
First, the minority bloc in the chamber called for the nationalization of power distributors in the country in order to regulate the price of electricity.
NGCP has lifted the yellow alert status in the Visayas while thin supply remains in the Luzon grid.