TACLOBAN CITY – Consumers can expect higher electricity bills this month as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ (NGCP) transmission rates rose by 9.25%, following the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) approval of rate adjustments and under-recovery charges.

From P0.4611 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in the June 2025 billing period, NGCP’s transmission rates climbed to P0.5923/kWh in July, an increase of P0.1312/kWh. While ancillary service rates dropped slightly from P0.6182/kWh to P0.5872/kWh, the overall average transmission rate still increased from P1.2113/kWh in June to P1.3233/kWh in July.

This adjustment will be reflected in consumers’ August bills as distribution utilities pass on the higher charges.

The ERC’s decision includes two major components: under-recoveries (UR): A fixed rate of P0.0384/kWh will be collected over 84 months to recover P28 billion in uncollected transmission charges from 2016 to 2022, and maximum allowable revenue (MAR): NGCP was allowed to recover an additional P6.62 billion, increasing the MAR from P51.47 billion to P58.10 billion. This translates to an additional P0.0629/kWh in transmission charges.
These adjustments form part of NGCP’s Fourth Regulatory Period Reset, which covers 2016–2022. The previous reset, covering 2010–2015, was implemented more than a decade ago.

According to the ERC, the approved rate increases will enable NGCP to fund projects aimed at improving and expanding the country’s power transmission network. The grid operator has repeatedly emphasized the need for infrastructure investments to address power reliability concerns and meet growing demand.

The increase in transmission rates comes despite a noted decrease in energy consumption from June to July 2025, which typically helps temper rate hikes. However, the approved recovery charges and MAR adjustments outweighed the effect of lower usage.

Industry observers note that while the ERC’s ruling ensures NGCP can recover past costs and fund grid upgrades, it will put additional strain on households and businesses already dealing with high electricity prices due to fuel and generation cost pressures.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

ORMOC CITY– The three-day search for a missing 21-year-old student ended in tragedy after his body was found floating in the Daguitan River in Barangay Cantimawa, Poblacion District 6, Burauen, Leyte at around 8:50 p.m. on August 7, 2025.

Police identified the victim as alias “Dan,” single, and a resident of San Jose Street, Poblacion District 3, Burauen.

According to the Burauen Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), their team spotted the body and immediately alerted the Burauen Municipal Police Station (MPS). Responding officers confirmed the discovery, finding the victim floating face down.

Initial investigation showed that Dan was last seen on the night of August 4 by a friend, alias “Ed,” who had invited him to stay over. Dan declined, saying he planned to go to Tacloban City to enroll. He was not seen again until his body was recovered.

It took rescuers nearly three hours to retrieve the remains, which were positively identified by the victim’s mother, alias “Nissa.” The cadaver was brought to Apostol Funeral Services, where a post-mortem examination was conducted at 9:22 p.m. by the municipal medical officer.

Police said the cause of death has yet to be determined, and the investigation is ongoing.

(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

ORMOC CITY– A 23-year-old construction worker was wounded in an unprovoked stabbing during a fiesta celebration in Sitio Mangga, Barangay Patag, around 4:50 a.m. on Saturday, August 9, 2025.

Police identified the victim as alias “Lee,” a resident of Barangay Talisayan, Albuera, Leyte. The suspect, alias “Gar,” 29, also a construction worker, resides in Barangay Patag, Ormoc City.

Based on the report from Ormoc City Police Station 6, the victim was heading to a friend’s house to help prepare a pig for the celebration when the suspect confronted him, declaring in the local dialect, “Ako ang gahi dinhi sa amo lugar” (“I’m the tough one around here”). Without warning, the suspect allegedly pulled an ice pick from his motorcycle’s U-box and stabbed the victim twice—once in the head and once in the right hand.

The victim was rushed to Ormoc District Hospital, while the suspect was arrested on the spot and placed under police custody for proper disposition.

(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

ORMOC CITY – Authorities in Southern Leyte arrested the province’s third most wanted person for rape during an operation in Barangay Magaupas, Liloan, at around 10:40 a.m. on Friday, August 8, 2025.

The suspect, identified as Benhur Pelisco, 42, single, and a fisherman from Liloan, was apprehended by virtue of a warrant of arrest for rape in relation to Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

The arrest warrant, issued on August 6, 2025, under Criminal Case No. R-2390, carried no bail recommendation and was signed by Presiding Judge Fabio T. Albao Jr. of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 39, Sogod, Southern Leyte.

Pelisco is now in the custody of the Liloan Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.

(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

VILLABA, Leyte — The Philippine Statistics Authority – Leyte Provincial Statistical Office (PSA Leyte), through its Registration Team, has brought the National Identification System (National ID) registration right to the doorsteps of residents in Villaba, Leyte last 25 July 2025, focusing on bedridden individuals and senior citizens who are unable to personally visit registration centers.

This house-to-house registration initiative underscores PSA’s unwavering commitment to service accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring that all Filipinos—especially those with mobility challenges—can enjoy the benefits of having a National ID.

As part of the activity, the team successfully registered nine (9) bedridden senior citizens, providing them with the opportunity to secure their National ID without leaving the comfort of their homes.

PSA Leyte extends its sincere appreciation to the Local Government Unit of Villaba through its Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO), as well as the Barangay Local Government Units (BLGUs) of Balite, Jordan, and Poblacion Sur, for their invaluable assistance in identifying and coordinating with target registrants, ensuring the smooth conduct of the activity.
Through this activity, PSA Leyte reinforces its commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in the National ID registration, guaranteeing that every eligible Filipino—regardless of age, health condition, or location—can access this vital government service.

The team visited identified households in the barangays of Balite, Jordan, and Poblacion Sur, using the National ID registration equipment to capture biometrics and process applications on-site. This effort also aligns with PSA’s mandate to make public services more responsive, inclusive, and citizen-centered.

The National ID aims to provide a valid proof of identity for all Filipinos and resident aliens, streamlining public and private transactions and promoting financial inclusion, particularly for those in remote and marginalized communities.

Furthermore, PSA Leyte encourages family members, barangay officials, and community leaders to continue supporting the agency by identifying residents who need special registration arrangements, ensuring that no one is left unregistered.

For more information on the National ID Registration and schedules, individuals may visit the nearest PSA office in Leyte. Moreover, stay updated by following official PSA Leyte’s FB page: facebook.com/psaleyte2 or reach us thru our email address: leyte@psa.gov.ph (PR)