ILOILO CITY—MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power), the sole power distributor in Iloilo City owned by billionaire Enrique Razon Jr., is set to expand its services to 15 towns and a component city in Iloilo province.
This was after the Senate approved in the third and final reading on Monday, May 30, House Bill No. 10306 which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 11212 (RA 11212) or the law that granted MORE Power its 25-year congressional franchise in 2019.
The newly-approved bill is expected to be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte before stepping down on June 30.
Once signed, the amended law will include towns in Iloilo’s 2nd and 4th districts in the franchise area of MORE Power.
Consumers in the towns of Alimodian, Leganes, Leon, New Lucena, Pavia, San Miguel, Santa Barbara and Zarraga in the 2nd District as well as Nilao, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Dingle, Duenas, Dumangas and San Enrique and the City of Passi in the 4th District are currently being served by Iloilo Electric Cooperative-I (ILECO-I) and Iloilo Electric Cooperative-II (ILECO II).
Congressmen Michael Gorriceta of Iloilo 2nd District and Braeden John Biron of Iloilo 4th District who initially sponsored a bill after the clamor from residents last October 2021 for cheaper and reliable electricity rates.
With the looming expansion, MORE Power assured consumers in Iloilo City they will not be neglected.
“Hindi magbabago ang level of service sa city. Hindi mababawasan ang investment at hindi rin mababawasan ang tao (Our services in the city will not change. There’s no reduction in investments or in manpower),” said MORE Power President Roel Castro.