Manila: The government aims to address electricity losses reflected in consumers' bills through a four-phased approach needing approximately PHP 7 billion. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, in an online briefing Monday, said they are also proposing the increase of the anti-pilferage penalty from PHP5,000 to PHP50,000 to deter crimes that disadvantage power consumers.

According to Philippines News Agency, Garin highlighted the collaborative efforts with the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), local government units (LGUs), and electric cooperatives to campaign and enforce anti-pilferage measures. Public reporting of suspected electricity theft and electrical safety hazards through the E-GovPH platform is also being encouraged.

These measures align with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA) commitment to address system losses and remove the value-added tax (VAT) on system loss charges. Garin mentioned ongoing meetings with all stakeholders to tackle the issue, which involves addressing both technical and non-technical factors leading to electricity loss.

Garin explained the four-stage plan, which aims for a 25 percent reduction in system loss in Stage 1, progressing to 50 percent, 75 percent, and ultimately 100 percent. The budget assessments for these measures are ongoing to ensure readiness by next year, with a target to reduce non-technical charges within one year.

'We have just finished the estimates, and we are looking for the sources, and we will talk to DBM (Department of Budget and Management) and the Executive Secretary for sourcing this,' she added.