Meralco 

The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved on third and final reading the bill seeking a new 25-year franchise for the Manila Electric Co.(Meralco), the country's biggest power distributor.

The propsosed franchise extension--embodied in House Bill (HB) No.10926--garnered 186 affirmative votes during plenary session Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Only seven House members opposed the final passage of HB No.10926, while four solons abstained during nominal voting. 

With the majority vote, Deputy Speaker Antipolo City 1st district Rep. Roberto Puno declared the measure as passed on third reading. 

It was only Sept. 24 that the measure was approved on second reading. Only a simple voice vote (ayes vs. nayes) was needed for this.

The measure is a consolidation of HB Nos. 9793, 9813, and 10317--all of which seek an early extension to Meralco’s franchise, which is scheduled to expire in 2028.  

Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda, one of the authors of the bill, was the one who sponsored HB No.10926 in plenary.

"Meralco's mandates under its current franchise were clear. It has met these mandates; hence, it's franchise merits renewal." Salceda, an economist, said in September.

The second and third reading approval of HB No.10926 was separated by Congress' six-week recess. Congressional sessions resumed only last Monday, Nov. 4.

Meralco services Metro Manila and nearby provinces.