HOUSE F RUORESENTATIVES
lic of the Phil Reger aa
Republic of the Philippines JUL 2
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DATE: JUL 2018
Quezon City, Metro Manila Tie S100
SEVENTEETH CONGRESS BN
First Regular Session

REGISTR \TION UNIT
House Bill NL 292. BILLS AND WOE X SERVICE

Introduced by Honorable Florida P. Robes ,

AN ACT IMPLEMENTING A PREPAID ELECTRIFICATION SYSTEM FOR

THE ELECTRICITY CONSUMERS OF THE LONE DISTRICT OF SAN JOSE DEL

MONTE, PROVINCE OF BULACAN, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. It is hereby declared a policy of the State to promote the sustainable
development in the country through electrification by pursuing programs that will accelerate the
total electrification of the country and will ensure the quality, security and affordability of the
supply of electric power.

SEC. 2. The main objective of this Act is to provide electricity consumers in the lone
legislative district of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan an alternative means to access electricity to
enable them to have control and awareness of their household electricity usage.

SEC. 3. A prepaid electrification system is hereby implemented in the district through
the existing power distributing company, to be known as San Jose Del Monte Prepaid Electricity
Project.

SEC. 4, The marketing, training and maintenance management should be in place before
the system shall be installed and operational.

SEC. 5. Public Private Partnership is hereby enjoined in order to effectuate the
realization of the project.

SEC. 6. The Department of Energy, in coordination with the existing power distributing
company in the district as well as other stakeholders and private entities, shall formulate the
necessary guidelines in the implementation of this project, including resource allocation,
distribution of responsibilities and the setting or realistic objectives.

SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session,

House Bill No.. 1292

Introduced by Rep. Florida P. Robes

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

Among the utilities which people nowadays cannot live without is electricity, Almost all

human activities are related to the use of electricity. It is one of the greatest achievements of man
which has made lives comfortable. It powers factories, schools, hospitals, etc. All kinds of
transportations are assisted by electricity. Our world will be in total darkness without it.
However, just like water, it has been commodified and is expensive. Due to necessity, people
are left with no choice but to pay the cost even how high in order to use it.

Unfortunately, the cost of electricity in the country is considered the highest in Asia, In
fact, high power costs have burdened Filipinos for decade, The ability of the manufacturing
sector to compete in the global market is slackened because of this, Some of the reasons why
cost is high are: (1) the privatization of the electric power sector; (2) no state subsidy; and (3)
Very high price of domestic natural gas from Malampaya which fuels three biggest power plants
in Luzon. Further, high cost of electricity is attributed to the production of power up to its
distribution entailing additional cost, as well as the taxes, the burden of which are shifted to
‘consumers. Because of these reasons, Filipino consumers pay highest among other consumers in
other Asian countries.

Hence, the aim of this proposed bill is to make electricity more affordable and to protect
consumers from paying for services which they have not used. A prepaid electricity, accessed
though a card or loading system like that used by telecom companies, is more practical.
Consumers, for one, will avoid getting penalized if payment is late or overdue. A prepaid
metering system will enable consumers to monitor their usage. Considering the foregoing, the

approval of this Bill is earnestly sought.

FLORIDA P. ROBES