I AM quite certain this question has been on the minds of many residents of “I Am Iloilo City”: over the past six years under the stewardship of MORE Electric and Power Corporation—better known as MORE Power—has its presence been beneficial, profitable, or otherwise?
Let us examine the tangible, if not immediately quantifiable, effects of MORE Power on the local economy.
To begin with, MORE Power’s customer base has nearly doubled in just five years—from 62,000 accounts in 2020 to about 115,000 today. This steady growth is a strong indicator of economic expansion. Simply put, business is booming, and something is clearly being done right for Iloilo City’s consumers.
MORE Power has also invested ₱3 billion in its five-year modernization program, now in its final year. This massive investment upgraded the city’s power distribution system and related facilities, bringing them up to par with 21st-century standards.
As a testament to the improved reliability of Iloilo City’s power infrastructure, several multinational call centers have set up operations here—further strengthening the city’s reputation as one of the most livable highly urbanized cities in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the rapid growth of MORE Power’s customer base translates to a significant economic contribution. A study by the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) estimates that MORE Power injects an average of ₱4.99 billion annually into Iloilo City’s economy. Again, the most telling indicator is the expansion of its customer base—from 62,000 in 2020 to over 100,000 and counting today.
UA&P President Winston Conrad B. Padojinog noted: “On average, what is injected into the economy of Iloilo is close to ₱5 billion, or almost four percent of the economy of the city of Iloilo.”
The same study attributes 3.8 percent of the city’s gross domestic product to MORE Power’s role as a reliable electricity distributor—creating an average of 2,200 jobs annually.
Under the leadership of President and CEO Roel Castro, MORE Power has generated an estimated 6,693 jobs, both directly and indirectly.
Castro himself has emphasized that Iloilo City’s power infrastructure is now stable and equipped with ample spare capacity to support new investments. The upgraded grid can meet rising demand and readily accommodate industrial, commercial, and residential growth.
In recognition of his contribution, then-Mayor Jerry Treñas declared Castro an “adopted son of Iloilo City” through Executive Order No. 162.
This year, Iloilo City’s power infrastructure is expected to be “above the curve,” fully prepared to meet future investment demand.
The system now enjoys around 36 percent spare capacity, allowing it to absorb new loads without the immediate need for large-scale construction.
Equally telling is the dramatic improvement in system efficiency. System loss—a critical measure of utility performance—has been reduced from a high of 30 percent to an impressive 4.75 percent. Meanwhile, power interruptions have dropped from an average of 18 times a year to less than once annually, giving businesses the reliability required in a modern economy.
On the corporate social responsibility front, what began five years ago has now become an annual tradition. MORE Power has consistently supported charitable institutions, channeling resources toward education, healthcare, and essential social services.
Among the beneficiaries are the Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center, St. Anne Parish–Molo, Asilo de Molo, Colegio de San Jose, St. Clement’s Parish Church, Assumption Iloilo, Carmelite Missionary–Jaro, the Homeless People’s Federation Philippines, the Philippine Red Cross–Iloilo, and St. Dominic.
Perhaps this explains best why MORE Power is widely viewed as both beneficial and profitable to “I Am Iloilo City.”
It is therefore no surprise that Representative Janette Garin filed House Bill No. 6292, seeking to expand MORE Power’s franchise to seven municipalities in Iloilo’s First District: Igbaras, Tubungan, Oton, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miag-ao, and San Joaquin.
As Garin put it: “We believe that such service—marked by high standards and proven to be fast, reliable, responsive, modern, and forward-looking—should also be made available to Ilonggos living outside Iloilo City.”
Beneficial and profitable indeed./PN
