Senator Win Gatchalian, who championed the passage of the Murang Kuryente Act, said the much awaited Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the law recently issued by the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Energy (DOE) can mitigate the impact on consumers expecting to pay accumulated electricity bills once the quarantine period is lifted.

Senator Win Gatchalian has filed a resolution to determine the short, medium, and long-term effects on the power sector and consumers of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senator Win Gatchalian has commended the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for swiftly acting on his call to undertake measures that will protect electricity consumers during the extended Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), including the staggered payment of electricity bills.

Senator Win Gatchalian said the government needs to come up with a solution to ease the burden of Filipino households, whose electricity bills are expected to pile up after a month of reprieve especially that the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) has been extended.

Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and power generating companies (GenCos) to relax the provisions in the Power Supply Agreements (PSAs) so that consumers won’t have to pay for unused electricity since there has been a decrease in electricity demand during this time of enhanced community quarantine.

With the enhanced community quarantine expected to go beyond April, Senator Win Gatchalian is calling on the government to extend the price freeze on Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) which households commonly use for their day-to-day needs.

Senator Win Gatchalian has filed a resolution to look into the initiatives of all energy agencies and stakeholders in ensuring the reliability, security and affordability of electric power supply during the summer season.

Officials of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) will need to do a lot of explaining on their failure to submit to a mandatory audit when they face the Senate Energy Committee again on Tuesday, March 10.

Senator Win Gatchalian expressed optimism that the Electric Vehicles and Charging Station Act may help reduce oil consumption in the country by as much as 146.56 million barrels per year and create a US$9.8 billion savings or ₱490 billion per year, if implemented correctly.