LINEMEN of MORE Power in Iloilo City. (Tara Yap)
ILOILO CITY – Iloilo Rep. Janette Loreto-Garin has sought the expansion of Razon-owned MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) to southern Iloilo province.
Garin has filed House Bill No. 6292 to amend Republic Acts (RA) No. 11212 and 11918 and facilitate inclusion.
RA 11212 gave MORE Power the franchise to be the sole power distributor in Iloilo City beginning 2020.
RA 11918 was the franchise granted for the expansion of MORE Power in 2022 to 15 towns in the second and fourth districts of Iloilo province.
MORE Power does not operate outside of Iloilo City but there has been clamor in other parts of Iloilo province for the company provide cheaper electricity and reliable electricity. It has multi-billion programs to upgrade facilities to upgrade its services.
“We feel that such service – marked by the highest standards, and which has been proven to be fast, reliable, responsive, modern, and forward-looking – should also be made available to Ilonggos outside of Iloilo City,” said Garin in the resolution.
Southern Iloilo towns of Guimbal, Igbaras, Oton, Miag-ao, San Joaquin, Tigbauan, and Tubungan are currently served by Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO I).
Garin, citing Section 11, Article 12 of the 1987 Constitution, noted that no franchise of public utility shall be exclusive in character.
“Public interest will be better served if we allow competition that will give Ilonggos living in the first district of Iloilo province to have a choice to avail for the benefit of MORE Power,” Garin added.