With this law, you will see a reduction in your subsequent electric bills. This is the government’s way of easing some of the burdens of the general public.

One of the basic commodities none of us can live without is electricity. Everyone, from whatever stratum of society, needs electricity. That is why we all religiously pay our electric bills. Try not paying and you will have a house with no power soon after. And as practically everything, from television, appliances, heater to light, in the house needs power, the house is reduced to a shell, without electricity. Not only that, even cars nowadays, something inconceivable some 30 years back, are already run by electricity. Instead of going to the gas station to fill the tank, we now just park by an electric outlet and literally plug our car there.

So, with this utmost dependence on electricity, we make sure we pay our bills on time and every month. Sad to say, there are inevitable moments when the power company, for one reason or another, must increase its rates. This translates to more pesos to shell out for the same electricity consumption. What is worrisome is the probability of a steady increase due to extraneous unforeseen factors over time. That will further burden us. Time might come when electricity becomes very expensive. Not a good thing.

But fear not. Our government is not unmindful of the rising cost of electricity. In fact, it constantly studies the matter and has come up with a solution. Thus, the birth of Republic Act (RA) 11371 or the Murang Kuryente Act, on 8 August 2019. What does it mandate? Its Section 4 provides that “Two hundred eight billion pesos… of the proceeds of the net national government share from the Malampaya fund, shall be utilized for the payment of stranded contract costs and stranded debts transferred to and assumed by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) pursuant to Section 49 of Republic Act 9136, the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, including all anticipated shortfalls in the course of payment of such liabilities after applying the PSALM’s collections from the privatization of the NPC’s assets, independent power producers; contracts, and proceeds for operations of existing assets….”

I know, I know you are drowned in legal jargon. You might not have even bothered finishing reading the citation to the end. No, you need not fully digest the provision. I am merely citing it as the authority for why I say there will be cheaper electric rates.

What does this provision mean in short? In gist, with this law, you will see a reduction in your subsequent electric bills. This is the government’s way of easing some of the burdens of the general public. But do not expect it next month. Several government departments still need to huddle. The Departments of Energy and Finance, in consultation with the Department of Budget Management, and PSALM will promulgate the necessary rules and regulations within 90 days from approval (Section 7, RA 11371). Once these guidelines are put in place, there you will see the reduction. You will see on the flip side of your electric bill the amounts absorbed by the government.

Here once again we see our government’s tireless efforts in helping all of us have a better quality of life. I myself was not conscious about all these before. It was through my constant reading and keeping abreast of the latest laws that I realize how our government is taking steps for our welfare and advancement. You might want to do this during your leisure time. Just google “Republic Acts Philippines,” and there you will see all the laws, both recent and old, passed by Congress. Go over them. You realize how these laws are geared towards the betterment of the Filipino people. Try it. It’s very informative. And you appreciate what your government does for you.