Since lockdown has started, there were many business such as banks, who waived their fees and interest rates in relation to the Bayanihan Heal As one Act. One of those business was Meralco, who waived their convenience fees last month after the Department of Energy received various complaints from its customers. The power distributor already made a refund to the amount charged to customers.
Since Metro Manila shifted to a relaxed general community quarantine, Meralco will now resume charging their customers P47.00 for paying their bills online.
During the hearing of the House Committee on Public Accountability and Good Government, Meralco Senior VP William Pamintuan elaborated that they only waived their fees from March 16 to May 15 since most of their business and payment centers were closed due to strict stay-at-home measures.
Quezon City Rep. Onyx Crisologo tried to request that Meralco continues to waive the fees since customers may still struggle going to payment centers due to the limited operation of public transports in Metro Manila.
He said,
“Sana po intindihin din ng Meralco, if you can possibly still waive it because kahit naman GCQ na tayo and open na po ang business centers ninyo, ang mga normal na tao, mga mamamayan natin, wala po silang transportation. Especially ‘yung mga nagco-commute, malayo ang kanilang babaybayin,”
