The Department of Energy (DOE) has released P4.39 billion under the Energy Regulations 1-94 (ER 1-94) Program to local government units (LGUs) hosting energy generation facilities or energy resource development projects.
“As of December 31, 2020, a total of P4.28-billion ER 1-94 Funds was released to host LGUs by the DOE. For January 2021, a total of P113.34 million was released, bringing the cumulative total of ER 1-94 releases to P4.39 billion,” a DOE statement released on Monday read.
Under the ER 1-94 program, host communities to energy generation facilities and/or energy resource development are entitled to P 0.01 per kilowatt-hour of the total electricity sales of generation companies and energy resource developers to finance electrification, livelihood and development projects.
It was introduced in the middle of last year to help communities recover from the adverse impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
These funds are currently being utilized and disbursed by the host LGUs for the facilitation of mass testing; provision of an emergency subsidy in the form of non-food items; assurance of uninterrupted availability and access of essential commodities, particularly food and medicines; and support feeding programs and provision of relief goods for low-income constituents.
The disbursed funds are also being used for the acquisition of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline medical workers, and medical and other decontamination/disinfecting supplies and equipment; provision, by construction or lease, of additional medical facilities, tents, safe holding areas, including quarantine centers and distribution centers; and for the provision of electricity cost subsidies to newly constructed facilities of hospitals and health clinics.
The funds are also being used for the provision of cremation, or burial services, to families affected by Covid-19; and other reasonable and tangible measures to contain, mitigate and eliminate the transmission of Covid-19, and manage and control its effects to the community and individuals.