A privately-funded survey has found that more Filipinos actually prefer clean energy as solar or hydroelectric over that generated from coal like that distributed by Meralco. Rafael Taboy Pulse Asia confirmed recent survey results that showed a majority of Filipinos are dissatisfied with the price of their electricity.

According to the survey, 84 percent of the respondents in Metro Manila were displeased with the cost of electricity provided by the Manila Electric Company or Meralco, the country’s largest distributor of electric power. On a national scale, 66 percent of the respondents were disappointed with the cost of electricity.

The survey results were presented by Dr. Ana Tabunda of Pulse Asia at a news conference hosted by the Power for People coalition or P4P, a network of civil society organizations, cooperatives, consumers and communities lobbying for clean, safe and affordable energy.

“The dismay of many of the respondents manifests that the affordability of electricity and the energy source has become a major concern for many Filipinos. Our policy makers must consider seriously that costly and dirty energy are no longer tolerable. A shift to cheaper renewable energy sources must be the order of the day,” said Gerry Arances, convenor of P4P and executive director of CEED.

The survey results also showed that 82 percent of Filipino adults are in favor of “having a new option for electric service provider or electric utility.” In the National Capital Region, which relies solely on Meralco for its power distribution, 88 percent of adults expressed openness to new electric service providers.

For the past two consecutive months Meralco has increased its distribution charges. They attributed the higher rates to the increase in the charges in its power supply agreements.