The government’s Lifeline Rate has benefited 7,144 household beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Antique.

“We are also still processing and will be submitting the applications of the other 4Ps beneficiaries to Anteco (Antique Electric Cooperative) and Akelco (Aklan Electric Cooperative),” said Pantawid Antique Provincial Office Project Development Officer II Ashlyn Grace Eucogo in an interview on Monday.

The province has 22,542 active 4Ps household beneficiaries.

She encouraged other 4Ps household beneficiaries, who have not applied for the LRP, to approach Pantawid personnel in their municipalities and submit their Barangay Certification, application forms, and current electricity bill for processing either with the Anteco or the Akelco.

She further said expanding the program, enabling more household beneficiaries, will be of help to the poorest of the poor in Antique.

Jeneme Dubria, whose family is a 4Ps household beneficiary, said that being included in the LRP had helped them save some money to buy food.

“We could save our money for our food because of the LRP,” she said.

She said that she still has two children in Grades 8 and 10 who are in school and being monitored by the Pantawid workers.

Marge Mijares said that she is glad that their household availed of the LRP.

“Instead of paying for our electricity, we can use some money for our other household needs,” she said.

In an earlier interview, Antique Electric Cooperative, under General Manager Neal Peter Veñegas, said the LRP is mandated by Republic Act 11552, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

He further said that Anteco provides a seven percent discount to 4Ps households consuming 15 kilowatt hours (kWh) or less per month, while those consuming 16 kWh to 20 kWh get a 5 percent discount.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, in his State of the Nation Address on Monday, announced the expansion of the Lifeline Rate. (PNA)