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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE  
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES  
) 
Second Regular Session 
 
 
) 
 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. _______ 
In substitution of Senate Bill No. 1583 
 
Prepared by the Committees on Energy and Public Services with Senators Sherwin T. 
Gatchalian and Leila De Lima as authors thereof 
 
AN ACT 
EXTENDING AND ENHANCING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LIFELINE 
RATE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 73 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
9136, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY REFORM 
ACT OF 2001, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10150  
 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
 
SECTION 1. Extension of Lifeline Rate. - Section 73 of Republic Act No. 9136, 
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otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, as amended by 
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Republic Act No. 10150, is hereby further amended to read as follows: 
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“SEC. 73. Lifeline Rate. - A socialized pricing mechanism called a lifeline 
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rate for [the] QUALIFIED marginalized end-users shall be set by the 
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ERC which shall be exempted from the cross subsidy phase-out under 
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this Act for a period of [twenty (20)] THIRTY (30) years, unless 
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otherwise extended by law. The level of consumption and rate shall be 
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determined by the ERC after due notice and hearing:  PROVIDED, 
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THAT THE ERC SHALL UTILIZE DATA FROM THE PHILIPPINE 
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October 12 2020
12:45 pm
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STATISTICS AUTHORITY (PSA) IN THE DERMINATION OF THE 
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LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION. 
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QUALIFIED MARGINALIZED END-USERS SHALL REFER TO ANY 
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OF THE FOLLOWING: 
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(A) 
QUALIFIED 
HOUSEHOLD-BENEFICIARIES 
UNDER 
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REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11310, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
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PANTAWID 
PAMILYANG 
PILIPINO 
PROGRAM, 
AS 
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REGULARLY SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 
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SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD) TO THE 
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DOE, THE ERC, AND THE DISTRIBUTION UTILITY; OR 
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(B) 
MARGINALIZED END-USERS WHO HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED 
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AS SUCH BY THEIR DISTRIBUTION UTILITY BASED ON A 
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CRITERIA DETERMINED BY ERC: PROVIDED, THAT THE 
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CRITERIA SHALL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE POVERTY 
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THRESHOLD SET BY THE PSA, AND SHALL CONTAIN AN 
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EXCLUSIVE LIST OF REQUIREMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED 
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TO THE DISTRIBUTION UTILITY: PROVIDED FURTHER, 
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THAT THE EXCLUSIVE LIST OF REQUIREMENTS SHALL 
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NOT BE BURDENSOME FOR THE APPLICANT: PROVIDED 
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FINALLY,  THAT THE DISTRIBUTION UTILITY SHALL ACT 
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ON 
THE 
APPLICATION 
FOR 
CERTIFICATION 
AS 
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MARGINALIZED END-USER WITHIN TWO (2) WORKING 
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DAYS FROM SUBMISSION OF COMPLETE DOCUMENTARY 
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REQUIREMENTS. 
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THE ERC SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR 
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QUALIFIED MARGINALIZED END-USERS WHOSE METERS ARE 
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NOT REGISTERED IN THEIR NAME. 
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THE ERC SHALL SUBMIT TO THE JOINT CONGRESSIONAL 
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ENERGY 
COMMISSION 
AN 
ANNUAL 
REPORT 
ON 
THE 
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IMPLEMENTATION 
OF 
THE 
LIFELINE 
RATE, 
AND 
A 
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COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF ITS IMPLEMENTATION 
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EVERY THREE (3) YEARS TO INCLUDE A COST-BENEFIT 
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ANALYSIS AS WELL AS MODES OF VALIDATION AND 
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PREVENTION OF LEAKAGES.” 
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SECTION 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The ERC, together with the 
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DOE and DSWD, in consultation with the PSA and other public and private 
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stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act 
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within ninety (90) calendar days from its effectivity.  
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SECTION  3. Separability Clause. -If, for any reason, any provision of this Act or 
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any part thereof shall be held unconstitutional and invalid, the other parts or provisions 
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of this Act, which are not affected thereby, shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations 
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or parts thereof inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
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amended, or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in the Official Gazette or one (1) newspaper of general circulation. 
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