Senate President Win Gatchalian called for urgent reforms to lower electricity costs, saying affordable power is crucial to reviving economic growth and providing relief to Filipino families and small businesses.

Gatchalian made the call amid the country’s sluggish economic growth, with the Philippine economy expanding by only 2.3% in the second quarter, and increased exposure to global energy price shocks due to reliance on imported oil.

He said generation and system loss charges, which are passed on to consumers, must be subject to greater transparency and justification.

Gatchalian earlier filed Senate Bill No. 2350, which seeks to prohibit distribution utilities from imposing system loss charges on consumers and remove value-added tax on electricity sales.

He also filed Senate Resolution No. 581 seeking an inquiry into the lack of regular fuel cost audits amid rising generation charges and to strengthen regulatory oversight of the power sector.