Consumer groups to stage people’s Sona over rising power costs

LUCENA CITY — A national coalition of consumer groups and sectoral organizations will stage the “Sona ng Sambayanan” (people’s Sona) on Monday, July 27, to coincide with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).

The Power for People Coalition (P4P) said on Saturday that it would be joined by various people’s organizations, workers’ groups, homeowners’ associations, urban poor communities, youth organizations, and other sectoral groups.

“As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his Sona, consumer groups under the P4P, together with various people’s organizations, workers, homeowners’ associations, urban poor, youth, and sectoral groups, will hold the Sona ng Sambayanan,” the coalition said.

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According to P4P, the event aims to present what it described as the “real state” of Filipino consumers by highlighting the impact of rising electricity rates, increasing prices of basic commodities, and what it called the government’s failure to shield the public from the country’s worsening cost-of-living crisis.

P4P is a national network of consumer organizations, people’s groups, and civic movements advocating for clean, affordable, and accessible energy.

Participants are expected to assemble at around 11:30 a.m. at a designated area along Commonwealth Avenue near the Batasang Pambansa before marching to St. Peter Parish Church, where the “SONA ng Sambayanan” program will be held.

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Marcos is scheduled to deliver his annual Sona before a joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa Complex at 4 p.m.

P4P has repeatedly criticized the Marcos administration over what it described as the government’s failure to protect consumers from rising electricity prices.

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It has also questioned the administration’s energy policies, particularly its continued support for coal-fired power generation, arguing that this contributes to high electricity costs and the country’s continued dependence on imported fossil fuels.

According to the coalition, current power pricing mechanisms allow energy companies to pass on fluctuating fuel costs to consumers through electricity charges, resulting in higher household expenses.

P4P said many Filipino families are now struggling with increasing power bills and are often forced to choose between paying for electricity and meeting other basic household needs.

The coalition also renewed its call on the Energy Regulatory Commission to investigate complaints of alleged irregular electricity meter readings involving Meralco, conduct a comprehensive audit of the utility’s billing practices, and impose sanctions if violations are established.

P4P said some consumers have reported electricity bills doubling or even tripling in recent months despite little or no increase in their power consumption.

The coalition also warned that electricity rates could rise further as higher global fuel prices continue to affect power generation costs following renewed tensions in the Middle East.

Last Tuesday, oil companies increased pump prices by as much as P10.68 per liter for diesel, P3.65 per liter for gasoline, and P11.77 per liter for kerosene.

Another round of fuel price increases is expected on Tuesday.

Fuel prices have generally been on an upward trend since January, with sharper increases in recent months amid continued volatility in the global oil market. /mcm