PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. drew sustained applause from lawmakers and guests at the Batasang Pambansa when he declared during his fifth State of the Nation Address that system loss charges should no longer be passed on to electricity consumers.
The announcement was met with a lengthy round of approval, reflecting widespread public sentiment that these costs have long been an unfair burden on households and businesses already grappling with high power rates.
“We, the people, request—no, we demand the immediate amendment of the EPIRA (Electric Power Industry Reform Act) and to prohibit charging system loss against consumers including the value‑added tax thereon,” the President stated firmly.
He emphasized that losses arising from theft, technical issues, or operational inefficiencies should be shouldered by the power industry itself, rather than being treated as a regular expense to be recovered from the public through monthly bills.
Marcos’s directive signals a push to revise long‑standing provisions of the law that have allowed utilities to pass on such costs. The move is expected to prompt Congress to prioritize amendments to EPIRA, with the goal of bringing down electricity expenses and ensuring greater accountability in the energy sector. The strong reception to the pronouncement underscores its broad appeal and the urgency felt by many to ease the financial strain on Filipino consumers.
metrosundaily
