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House bill authorizing MORE Power expansion in southern Iloilo OK'd on third reading

Philippines | Visayas

House bill authorizing MORE Power expansion in southern Iloilo OK'd on third reading

By Tara Yap

MORE Power linemen. (Tara Yap)

MORE Power linemen. (Tara Yap)

ILOILO CITY – The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading the proposed expansion of Razon-owned MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) in southern Iloilo province.

Authored by Iloilo first district Rep. Janette Loreto-Garin, House Bill (HB) No. 7647 called for amendments to Republic Act (RA) No. 11212 and RA 11918.

MORE Power was granted a congressional franchise in 2019 under RA 11212 as the sole power distributor in Iloilo City.

RA 11918 amended sections of RA 11212 in 2022 by granting the expansion of MORE Power’s franchise to towns in the second and fourth districts in Iloilo.

HB 7647 will be forwarded to the Senate and if the Upper Chamber approves the measure, MORE Power will be able to provide services to areas currently served by Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO I).

Garin reiterated that no franchise of public utility shall be exclusive in character as defined by the 1987 Constitution.

Garin said the Supreme Court affirmed the decision that public utilities are not exclusive to one service provider when it junked the petition of the three ILECOs in May 2025 which argued that the expansion of MORE Power is unconstitutional and a form of monopoly.

Southern Iloilo is composed of the towns of Guimbal, Igbaras, Oton, Miag-ao, San Joaquin, Tigbauan, and Tubungan.

Related Tags

MORE Power Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin

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