Sulu's poor to get power subsidy from gov't

SULU, Philippines – More than P5-million in power subsidy is set to be released by the Sulu Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SULECO) to lifeline consumers in the province, according to a government report.

The power subsidy called Pantawid Kuryente: Katas ng VAT (value added tax), which is being implemented by the national government, would be released to the municipalities Jolo, Indanan, Patikul, Talipao, Parang, Maimbung and Luuk.

SULECO General Manager Peraida Akalal said, the program is a one-time P500 subsidy to the poorest sector of society to help them pay their electric bills. “The recipients of this program are those residential consumers with maximum power consumption of 100 kilowatts and less or a maximum daily average consumption of 3.33 kilowatts per hour,” she said.

Akalal said that the qualified consumers will be given credit memorandum stating that the amount of P500 shall be applied starting March 2009 and future billings.

"The amount shall be treated as advances which will be reflected in the consumers billing until the total subsidy has been fully accounted for," she said.

SULECO has more than 16,000 member consumers.

Based from the May 2008 billing status, there are 11,227 families which qualified for the power subsidy. Of the seven energized municipalities, Jolo has the biggest share with 5,506 qualified beneficiaries followed by Patikul with 2,808.

SULECO Board President Hadji Rogelio Asaali said that for this program, the cooperative will receive a subsidy of P5,613,500 for the total number of qualified consumers.
NEA has already released the 80 percent of the total subsidy while the remaining 20 percent upon the liquidation of the first release.

The program is aimed at cushioning the impact of the high cost of electricity and other prime commodities and is funded through the allocation of P2-billion from oil VAT collection of the national government.

The DSWD, the Private Electric Power Operators Association and NEA are implementing the program in areas covered by 119 electric cooperatives and private investors-owned utilities nationwide.

SULECO is currently coordinating with partner agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, local officials of target beneficiaries and the Sulu Provincial Government, to ensure the successful implementation of this program.

Gov. Abdusakur Tan said the national government initiative is the manifestation of the strong confidence to local governance in the province. “The people of Sulu will benefit and get a fair share from the Pantawid Kuryente: Katas ng VAT Program of the national government same with other provinces in the country,” he said.