ANTIQUE — The Antique provincial government will continue providing a P500 electricity subsidy to qualified households through 2029 under the Provincial Electric Power Subsidy (PEPS) Program, Gov. Paolo Javier said as the program marks its first year.
Launched in August 2025, PEPS has benefited around 120,000 to 130,000 households across the province, providing financial relief to Antiqueño families regardless of economic status.
“Bahul gid nga bulig sa financial relief for our households dya sa Antique,” Javier said, noting that the program was launched to help ease household expenses and provide a tangible government service to residents.
From August to December 2025 and January to May 2026, the provincial government, through the Office of the Provincial Accountant, paid P454,369,118.50 to the Antique Electric Cooperative Inc. (ANTECO) and Aklan Electric Cooperative Inc. (AKELCO) to cover the subsidy for qualified beneficiaries.
The provincial government is also preparing an estimated P600 million to P620 million for the PEPS program in 2027, to be funded through national wealth.
Javier said available funds are expected to sustain the program until 2029, while the provincial government continues efforts to secure funding for 2030.
For beneficiaries, the subsidy has helped ease household expenses, allowing families to allocate more of their income to food, education, medicines and other necessities while continuing to conserve electricity.
Vivian Dalmacio, 40, of Barangay Panlagangan, Sibalom, said the amount her family previously allocated for electricity is now being used for her children’s allowances.
“Imbes ibayad sa kuryente, gina-gasto na lang ron namun sa mga allowance ka bata,” Dalmacio said.
Another resident, 50-year-old Mercy Tumangday, said the subsidy has eased the burden of monthly electricity bills and allowed her family to allocate their limited income to other daily needs.
Meanwhile, the provincial government is planning to use national wealth funds to cover the electricity expenses of provincial hospitals, beginning with the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital (ASMGH).
The move would free up an estimated P40 million to P50 million from the provincial government’s Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), which could instead be used for medicines and other essential hospital supplies.
As PEPS enters its second year, Javier said the program remains a key provincial initiative in providing direct financial assistance to Antiqueño households and easing the impact of electricity costs on families./PN
