Prepaid electricity

The PLDT group and Meralco are studying the possibility of offering prepaid electricity.

The concept is not new. Other countries are already going prepaid, as an answer to the dilemma of those who have poor credit history.  

Last year, the Energy Regulatory Commission released the draft rules for the availment of prepaid electricity. The adoption of the prepaid electricity scheme, ERC believes, would help cut down system loss and eventually redound to lower power rates.

Under the proposed rules, ERC said prepaid meters should be able to store at least two months’ worth of electricity consumption. It added that rates to be applied should be based on the previous month’s postpaid rate.

Aboitiz Power Corp. (APC), the power generation arm of the Aboitiz Group, is planning to pilot test its prepaid metering scheme.

But prepaid metering is a complicated process. For one, it requires a whole new set of meters, which can be expensive. Second, government rules on prepaid electricity metering system at this point are still vague.

But the fact that the country’s biggest power distribution utility is open to the idea of going prepaid, together with the company that helped revolutionize the idea of “prepaid”, is a good indication of things to come for this new partnership between two of the biggest and most powerful business conglomerates in the country.

Movements gains ground

A research conducted by leading advertising agency DDB Philippines has shown that the Filipino youth had become apathetic about the country’s plight and would rather just leave the country to work abroad.

The research further revealed the dearth of role models for them to look up to, but a desire to find something to latch their hopes on to, and a willingness to become role models themselves.

This, DDB Philippines’ Susan Dimacali explains, gave birth to Ako Mismo, an advocacy that encourages one to start with one’s self, committing in a personal way, big or small, to do good so that collectively, they could make a real difference in creating a better future for the Philippines. It is anchored on the belief that for the country to flourish, every individual must do his part.

According to the group’s website, Ako Mismo is a movement to energize and rejuvenate young Filipinos and move them to action.

As an advocacy, it is anchored on the following fundamental beliefs: first, that there is an inherent desire in every Filipino to effect positive change in the country; second, that social change is possible when individuals commit to a concrete actionable behavior that results to positive change; and third, that the power of the collective force of individuals who believe in making a difference will be the driving force for a sustainable transformation of Philippine society.

By registering with Ako Mismo, writing their commitments on the digital wall, members signify their intent to be part of a movement that will make a difference. In effect, the members are proclaiming that changes starts with them.

Multi-media campaigns were launched to increase awareness for the new movement. Ako Mismo’s television commercial was launched during the Pacquiao-Hatton match on May 3. As a call to action, people were invited to sign up either via text messaging or on the Ako Mismo website and post their pledges, which are then uploaded on a digital commitment wall.

Celebrities and famous personalities as well as ordinary folk, most of whom are associated with strong socio-civic interests, were featured in the campaign. They had multi-sectoral representation, from students to business, religious to entertainment personalities. Celebrities were featured with dog tags which have become a symbol for youth and what Ako Mismo stands for.

The dog tags have become so popular that there are around 1,400 requests for these daily.

The campaign has become the talk of the town. As of yesterday, the commitments are up to 181,572, a little over a month after the campaign was launched, although there are estimates that membership is now more than 200,000.

Last June 12, Ako Mismo mounted a day-long event at the Fort, Global City Open Field in Taguig. It is the first time dog tags were made available to the public. It was largely a benefit concert as the only cost of entry is the dog tag, which served as entrance ticket and ID. Each dog tag sold for P40, proceeds of which will go to beneficiary charity partners and socio-civic activities that will be mounted nationwide. DDB Phils’ Gil Chua says around 30,000 attended the concert which featured some of the biggest Pinoy bands.

The beneficiary charity partners are: Caritas Manila, UN Stand up Against Poverty, World Vision, Dynamic Teen Company, ERDA Foundation Inc., UP PGH Cancer Institute Foundation, Gawad Kalinga Foundation, Cutis Laxa Benefit, PNP Badge of Honor Foundation, PLDT Smart Foundation, and DDB Cares.

This, Susan notes, is only the beginning, and it’s hard to imagine that it’s only been a month since the fateful launch. She said Ako Mismo will be mobilizing its socio-civic arm to mount activities nationwide soon after the concert, choosing 40 pockets all over the country where the most number of Ako Mismo members reside, and matching them with the socio-civic activity which is most relevant in each of the locales.

The Ako Mismo movement started with the combined force of DDB and the support the PLDT Smart Foundation. But today, it has the support of other like-minded companies. Susan adds that more importantly, Ako Mismo is partnering to raise funds for international and local socio-civic organizations which have the capability and infrastructure to help even more people, and working with them and other youth groups and schools to spread the movement, which over the long-term, will keep the spirit of Ako Mismo alive for years to come.

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