20,000 East Samar families to avail of power subsidy

By ALICE NICART (PIA Eastern Samar)
July 18, 2008

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar  –  In congruence to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s program to mitigate the impact of the increasing cost of electric power, Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative (ESAMELCO) is eyeing to likewise implement the “P500 power subsidy” to some 20,000 families who have consumed not more than 100 kilowatt since May 2008.

This was learned from Ms. Beth Acol, ESAMELCO Administrative Division Chief in a phone interview.

Acol said that the program has long been thought of also by the Cooperative immediately after the President acted on the problem.

“Maybe, since our top managers are still busy doing the same thing in other cooperatives, we can finalize this subsidy thing this July,” Ms. Acol said. She also stressed that  the P500 will  not be given in cash but will be offset on installment basis from the families’ succeeding monthly billing, until the full amount is exhausted.

“Maupay na gad it.  Maiibanan it ak baraydan hin P100 kada bulan ngada hit ak paka bug-os hin P500? Kaupay dawla!”. (That is better! My monthly bill will be deducted of P100 until I am able to complete the P500 government subsidy. That’s good!). Emma Bacale of PC Village exclaimed. As a “puto” vendor in the neighborhood, P100 is good money for the mother of three, whose husband works as a driver.