The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga joins The Lifeline Rate Program IEC Campaign and Registration Drive in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur on April 2, 2024.

The program and registration, overseen by partner distribution utility, Surigao del Sur Electric Cooperative – 1 (SURSECO-1), was hosted by the LGU of Bislig City. Executive Assistant IV Jose Candia, on behalf of the Honorable Mayor Florencio Garay, welcomed all the participants during the said activity.

To extend the reach of the benefits outlined in the Lifeline Rate Act, the Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), DSWD, the local government unit (LGUs), and Distribution Facilities, launched an Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Campaign and Registration Drive – this was the pilot program implementation for Caraga region.

RA 11552, known as the “Lifeline Rate Act,” is a significant step towards having a subsidized rate given to qualified low-income electricity utility customers who are financially unable to pay their electricity bills. It is spearheaded by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as outlined in a trilateral advisory released on June 13, 2023.

Target participants for the said program include 4Ps beneficiaries and economically disadvantaged households within the designated areas.