While working from home keeps workers safe, the constant use of home utilities has added to the monthly electricity, mobile connection and other expenses. To address this, Senate Bill No. 1684, authored by Senators Francis Tolentino and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, aims to provide at least P1,000 monthly allowance to work-from-home employees.

The bill proposes that public and private sector employees who are working from home should be compensated for the additional electricity costs that they have been shouldering throughout quarantine. The allowances will be deducted from the employers’ taxable income.

Additionally, employers can provide “terms higher or more favorable” than P1,000—with this only being the minimum amount.

Earlier this July, Tolentino said that he would file a bill that would “provide a reasonable deduction on the gross income of any taxpayer who has incurred additional electricity consumption while working at home.”

[READ: Meralco under fire for alleged high billings for the month of May]

Last May, many netizens expressed their shock and anger towards the surge in their electricity bills during quarantine as Manila Electric Company (Meralco) increased their power consumption rates, with some bills amounting to eight times more than their monthly average bill.

“Hindi na sila nagtatrabaho doon sa opisina nila, hindi kumo-konsumo ng aircon at kuryente. Dahil nagtatrabaho sila sa bahay, nadagdagan ang kanilang gastusin sa kuryente,” Tolentino added.

Header photo courtesy of Wouter Beijert on Unsplash

Get more stories like this by subscribing to our weekly newsletter here.

For people with the luxury of working from home, a game plan

@Meralco, we just want to know why our bills are so high. Pls explain to the Senate