House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco backs Manila Electric Company’s (Meralco) decision to extend its no-disconnection policy for non-payment of electric bills for 30 days.

Initially set on December 31, 2020, Meralco moved the deadline to January 31, 2021.

Velasco, who recently proposed this idea to Meralco president Ray Espinosa through a written letter, was pleased over the news.

“The extended grace period being given to our fellow Filipinos during the holiday season will provide much needed reprieve to those reeling from the devastating effects of the pandemic and natural calamities,” Velasco said.

“This good gesture on the part of Meralco will go a long way in helping our kababayans feel secure this Christmas,” he added.

The extended grace period will be of advantage to around three million Meralco users, or 47 percent of their customers, with consumption of 200 kilowatt per hour and below during the billing month of December 2020, according to Espinosa.