NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Senior Citizens Group Pushes Back On Power Bill Claims Defends Discounts For Elderly And Poor
Photo credit: Cong. Ompong Ordanes
A party-list group representing elderly Filipinos is calling out what it says are misleading claims circulating online about electricity bills—particularly those questioning discounts and subsidies meant for vulnerable sectors.
The Senior Citizens Party-list clarified that benefits such as senior citizen discounts and lifeline rate subsidies are not new charges or arbitrary add-ons, but long-established protections backed by law and implemented nationwide.
Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes stressed that these mechanisms are designed to ensure that basic services like electricity remain accessible to those who need them most.
“These are mandated by law,” Ordanes said. “They exist so senior citizens and low-income households can continue to afford essential services.”
He explained that while these items appear in monthly electricity bills—alongside other regulated components such as universal charges and pass-through costs—the actual burden on regular consumers is minimal.
“For most households, the added cost is very small,” he noted. “But for senior citizens and 4Ps beneficiaries, the relief is significant. It helps ease everyday expenses.”
The group warned that framing these subsidies as major drivers of rising electricity costs distorts the bigger picture. According to Ordanes, such claims ignore how power rates are structured and regulated, and risk confusing the public.
“These are social protection measures, not political tools,” he said. “They are lifelines meant to promote fairness and inclusion.”
The party-list also cautioned that misinformation could undermine programs intended to support the elderly and low-income families, urging the public to take a closer look at verified information before drawing conclusions.
In the end, the group is calling for a more informed discussion—one that recognizes the role of these policies in protecting some of the country’s most vulnerable sectors, rather than turning them into targets of misplaced criticism.
The Senior Citizens Party-list clarified that benefits such as senior citizen discounts and lifeline rate subsidies are not new charges or arbitrary add-ons, but long-established protections backed by law and implemented nationwide.
Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes stressed that these mechanisms are designed to ensure that basic services like electricity remain accessible to those who need them most.
“These are mandated by law,” Ordanes said. “They exist so senior citizens and low-income households can continue to afford essential services.”
He explained that while these items appear in monthly electricity bills—alongside other regulated components such as universal charges and pass-through costs—the actual burden on regular consumers is minimal.
“For most households, the added cost is very small,” he noted. “But for senior citizens and 4Ps beneficiaries, the relief is significant. It helps ease everyday expenses.”
The group warned that framing these subsidies as major drivers of rising electricity costs distorts the bigger picture. According to Ordanes, such claims ignore how power rates are structured and regulated, and risk confusing the public.
“These are social protection measures, not political tools,” he said. “They are lifelines meant to promote fairness and inclusion.”
The party-list also cautioned that misinformation could undermine programs intended to support the elderly and low-income families, urging the public to take a closer look at verified information before drawing conclusions.
In the end, the group is calling for a more informed discussion—one that recognizes the role of these policies in protecting some of the country’s most vulnerable sectors, rather than turning them into targets of misplaced criticism.
Apr 26, 2026
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