A Facebook post claims that electricity bills of households consuming P2,000 and below a month are now free of charge, citing Senator-elect Rodante Marcoleta’s campaign promise. This needs context.
Marcoleta did mention in one of his campaign sorties about the power subsidy should the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) slate win in the just-concluded May 12 midterm polls.
Although Marcoleta won a seat in the Senate, he has yet to assume office and file a bill providing for it. The proposal still has to go through the legislative mill and become law before the power subsidy could take effect.
Uploaded on May 15, three days after the elections, the post read:
“Libre na raw ang kuryente komokonsumo 2k pababa- Senator Elect Marcoleta.
(Electricity is now free for those consuming P2k below-Senator Elect Marcoleta).”
During the April 12 PDP-Laban campaign rally in Zamboanga Sibugay, Marcoleta promised to do away with graft-ridden ayuda and work instead for a power subsidy. He said:
“Kapag nanalo po ang PDP-Laban, alisin po natin ‘yang mga ayuda na ‘yan. Ang gagawin po natin, ganito po, ‘yun pong kumokonsumo ng kuryente P2,000 isang buwan pababa, pwede na po nating ilibre ‘yun.
(If PDP-Laban wins, we will remove these ayuda. What we will do is this, those consuming electricity at P2,000 and below per month, we can make that free of charge).”
Source: DZAR 1026 News YouTube channel, LIVE: PDP Laban – Duterte Senatorial Slate Rally sa Zamboanga Sibugay | Ayusin Natin ang Pilipinas, April 12, 2025 (from 3:19:49 to 3:20:11)
In an interview on Net25 program “Sa Ganang Mamamayan” after initial unofficial election results showed him ranking high to secure a Senate seat, Marcoleta mentioned again his plan to lower electricity rates in the country.
This time, he went further into scrapping the 12% value added tax on electricity. He said:
“Pagkatapos natin, banatan natin ang kuryente… Tanggalin natin ang 12% VAT sa kuryente, bagsak ang presyo.
(After that, let’s tackle electricity. Let’s remove the 12% VAT on electricity, the price will drop).”
Source: Net25 YouTube channel, Sa Ganang Mamamayan – May 14, 2025, May 14, 2025 (26:49 to 27:18)
Uploaded by FB page Isabelino Ako (created July 2010), the post has so far received 71,000 interactions.
