Manila (10 July) -- Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral said that about 80 percent of Metro Manila beneficiaries of the "Pantawid Kuryente: Katas ng VAT" program have claimed their P500 subsidy payments.

As of June 28, 2008, some 650,250 claimants have been served in Metro Manila, Region III, and Region IV-A. The amount disbursed now reached P325,125,000 broken down as follows: 432,737 claimants in NCR; 66,828 in Region III; and 150,685 in Region IV-A.

The DSWD is now concentrating on the other Meralco franchise areas.

Meanwhile, the DSWD and National Electrification Administration (NEA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement on June 12, 2008 wherein the Department has downloaded P500 million to NEA for distribution to the electric cooperatives.

The NEA has received the P500 million electric subsidy from the DSWD and has issued the implementing guidelines regarding the implementation of the "Pantawid Kuryente: Katas ng VAT" program to 119 electric cooperatives.

The National Electrification Administration, a government - owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) has oversight functions over electric cooperatives all over the country.

According to NEA Administrator Edita S. Bueno, they have also invited the representatives of the electric cooperatives to clarify issues and concerns on the program's implementation.

Likewise, NEA has started releasing the subsidy to the electric cooperatives to be credited to the consumers' electric bill starting June 2008.

The deducted amount will appear in the beneficiaries' billing statements in July, at the latest, the NEA reported.

It will be recalled that President Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo ordered the payment of P500 one-time cash subsidy to users or consumers with an electric consumption of 100 kilowatt hours or less for the billing period ending in May 2008.