MORE NEWS, ILOCOS SUR

Ilocos power users to get P500
By Freddie Lazaro

VIGAN CITY -- The Ilocos Sur Electric Coop. is one of the electric cooperatives in the country that will receive R500 electricity subsidy for its customers, it was reported.

Teresita Ramos, manager of ISECo’s Vigan sub-area office, said the application of the cooperative for the release of the fund for the subsidy is being processed.

"Upon approval and release of the subsidy by the National Electrification Administration, we will immediately disseminate the information through the radio stations," Ramos said.

She said beneficiaries of the R500 electricity subsidy are member-consumers who use every month 100 kwh and less.

"Our ISECo employees are now validating the list of qualified beneficiary- recipients of the subsidy," Ramos said.

The cooperative’s Vigan sub-office is considered the largest branch office of ISECo in the province, servicing Vigan City and seven towns, namely Caoayan, Santa, Bantay, Sta. Catalina, San Vicente, San Ildefonso, and Sto. Domingo with 35,000 member-consumers.

"Out of the 35,000 member-consumers, at least 70 percent or 24,500 are qualified to receive the R500 subsidy," Ramos said.

Earlier, President Arroyo approved a R500 one-time electricity subsidy for poor consumers through her program called, "Pantawid Kuryente: Katas ng VAT."

The program aims to help electricity users cope with the rising costs of fuel and basic commodities.

The subsidy is taken from the collection of the expanded value added tax (EVAT).
Based on a memorandum issued by the NEA, the R500 subsidy will be deducted from the electric bills of the consumers.

This will be deducted from the monthly billings of the beneficiaries until the R500 is exhausted. The beneficiaries of the program were selected based on their recent monthly billings.

"All qualified consumers will receive a credit memo issued by the electric cooperative which will inform them of the subsidy and when will it be credited to their bills," Ramos said.