The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has asserted that beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) should not be blamed for the sudden spike in electricity bills.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the bill shock experienced by consumers was caused by MERALCO's generation cost itself.

"Fake news si Meralco. Hindi 4Ps ang rason bakit sumipa ang mga bill natin, kundi Meralco mismo. 'Yong bill shock na 'yon ay galing sa sarili nilang generation," Gatchalian said. 

(MERALCO is spreading fake news. 4Ps is not the reason our bills shot up — MERALCO itself is. That bill shock came from their own generation.)

He added that less than half a centavo goes to the lifeline rate subsidy allocated for the 4Ps members' discount.

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