The Panay Consumers Alliance (PCA) has criticized a recent social media post by Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas highlighting the savings from installing rooftop solar panels, saying the message fails to reflect the financial realities faced by many Ilonggo households.
In a statement, the consumer group said the mayor’s post gives the impression that reducing electricity costs is simply a matter of installing a solar power system, despite the high upfront investment required.
The group noted that the mayor’s monthly electricity bill reportedly dropped from P17,898.74 to P3,157.36 after installing rooftop solar panels, translating to savings of P14,741.38 per month.
However, PCA argued that such savings come only after spending an estimated P500,000 to P900,000 for a residential solar power system.
According to the group, the investment is beyond the reach of most Ilonggos, particularly minimum-wage earners in Western Visayas who receive P550 a day.
“A P500,000 to P900,000 solar installation is equivalent to more than 2.5 to 4.5 years of minimum wages, exposing how the mayor’s post is detached from the reality of Ilonggos,” the statement read.
The alliance also said that while government incentives for solar energy are welcome, these alone are insufficient without broader reforms in the country’s energy sector.
PCA urged the mayor to use her office to advocate for policies that would make electricity more affordable and accessible to all consumers rather than promoting what it described as an expensive private solution.
The group also renewed its call to repeal the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), arguing that privatization has placed the power sector under profit-driven control.
It said local officials should support efforts toward establishing a publicly owned and people-oriented energy system that guarantees affordable, reliable, and accessible electricity for all Filipinos.IMT
