Filipinos not satisfied with high power rates — poll

MANILA, Philippines — A majority of Filipino adults are dissatisfied with the current prices of electricity, a survey by Pulse Asia Research shows.

Based on Pulse Asia’s Ulat ng Bayan survey for forum on energy conducted from June 15 to 21, 60 percent of Filipino adults all over the country are dissatisfied with electricity prices.

This was led by Metro Manila, of which 84 percent of respondents are dissatisfied.

“With the exception of Mindanao, at least half of adults in the main geographic areas are dissatisfied with the price of their electricity,” Pulse Asia said.

Fifty percent of respondents from Mindanao said they are satisfied with current electricity prices.

The survey results were presented by Ana Tabunda of Pulse Asia yesterday at a press conference hosted by the Power for People coalition or P4P, a network of civil society organizations, cooperatives, consumers, and communities lobbying for clean, safe and affordable energy. 

Center for Energy, Ecology and Development executive director Gerry Arances said the results of the survey manifest that affordability of electricity and the energy source have become major concerns for many Filipinos.

“Our policymakers must consider seriously that costly and dirty energy are no longer tolerable. A shift to cheaper renewable energy sources must be the order of the day,” Arances said.

Moreover, the survey results also showed that a large majority or 82 percent of Filipino adults are in favor of “having a new option for electric service provider or electric utility.”

“Except for the Cordillera Administrative Region, large majorities (64 percent to 94 percent) of adults in the regions favor having an alternative electric service provider or electric utility,” Pulse Asia said.

In the National Capital Region, 88 percent of adults expressed openness to new electric service providers.

Arances cited the increase in Meralco’s electric distribution charges as the reason for this sentiment, as Meralco is the main provider of electricity in the region.

He said for the past two consecutive months Meralco has increased electric distribution charges. This was attributed to the increase in charges in its power supply agreements (PSAs), which hiked the generation charge.