MANILA – Urban poor group Kadamay on Monday criticized Meralco over its latest electricity rate increase, describing the PHP0.3428 per kilowatt-hour adjustment this July as a burden on consumers already grappling with rising living costs.

Kadamay Secretary-General Mimi Doringo said the increase reflects what the group described as corporate greed.

“Wala na ngang pambiling bigas, nanakawin pa ng Meralco ang kakarampot na sahod ng mga manggagawa at napakaliit na kita ng maralita,” Doringo said.

Kadamay blamed the latest rate adjustment on the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001, arguing that the law failed to deliver affordable electricity and fair competition.

The group claimed that EPIRA shifted accountability away from the government and enabled private corporations to dominate the power sector.

While Meralco has maintained that it does not profit from the generation charge, which accounts for more than half of consumers’ electricity bills, Kadamay argued that the law allows distribution utilities to source electricity from affiliated generation companies.

“Sa katunayan, pinapaikot lang ng Meralco ang kita nito mula sa binabayad natin sa kanila para i-garantiya na tutubo ang mga kasosyo nitong mga generation companies nina Pangilinan, Ramon Ang, at ng mga Aboitiz,” Doringo said.

The group alleged that Meralco’s ownership structure and business arrangements allow its major shareholders and affiliated companies to benefit from electricity supply contracts.

“Sa pamamagitan ng pagkontrol sa malalaking kontrata ng supply ng kurente sa bansa, sinisiguro ng mga bilyonaryong ito na ang ‘pass-through’ generation charge na sinisingil nila sa amin ay isa lamang modus para direktang limasin ang sahod ng mga konsyumer papunta sa sarili nilang mga bulsa,” Doringo added.

Kadamay also criticized the Marcos administration, accusing it of allowing public utilities to prioritize private profit over public welfare.

The group called on communities across Metro Manila to organize and highlight what it described as the disparity between Meralco’s earnings and the worsening economic conditions faced by consumers.

“Andami-dami nang problema sa bansa, sinasadya pa ng Meralco gawing imposible mabuhay sa Pilipinas sa pangaagaw nila ng halos kalahati ng kita namin para ibaon tayo lalo sa kahirapan,” Doringo said.