CORPORATE Social Responsibility, or CSR, is a business approach where companies set aside a portion of their resources to make a meaningful impact on society.
In today’s business world, it’s no longer enough to simply earn profits and pay taxes. CSR has become an integral part of responsible corporate conduct. While this concept has been around for some time, it remains unfamiliar — or worse, ignored — by some businesses.
CSR is essentially a form of international private business self-regulation. It supports societal goals through philanthropic, ethical, or volunteer-driven initiatives that seek to create a better world beyond the boardroom.
One company that clearly takes its CSR seriously is MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power). Its commitment to sustainability and green initiatives shows a genuine dedication to securing a greener future for Iloilo City.
Let’s put that into context.
A recent Harvest Festival in Barangay Hibao-an Norte, Mandurriao district, marked a major milestone in community-based agriculture. The event showcased a collaborative effort between local farmers, the City Agriculturist Office, private sector partners, and MORE Power.
The initiative, launched in celebration of MORE Power’s fifth anniversary, provided local farmers with free seedlings, technical training from Allied Botanical Corporation, and ongoing support from the City Agriculturist Office and the Uswag Nursery. Over a period of three months, 15 planting plots were cultivated, producing nearly 100 kilograms of high-value vegetables.
Dubbed FARMORE, the Harvest Festival is more than just a one-off event. It stands as a model for sustainable community development. By reinvesting the income from the harvest into the next planting cycle, the program creates a self-sustaining loop of growth and empowerment.
As Iloilo City Agriculturist Iñigo Garingalao aptly put it, “MORE Power is more than just a power distribution company — it strives to support and uplift the farmers of Iloilo City.”
Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) recently held a turnover ceremony for newly installed solar panels at its Administrative Services Building in its Iloilo City campus.
The donation — comprising a 3.6-kilowatt peak hybrid (off-grid/on-grid) solar photovoltaic (PV) system — was made possible through the CSR initiative of Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., in partnership with MORE Power.
The project aims to introduce clean energy to the university, lower its carbon footprint, reduce electricity costs, and inspire future generations to advocate for environmental sustainability.
Present during the turnover ceremony were UPV Chancellor Clement Camposano, Aboitiz Senior AVP for Regulated Sales Jeremiah L. Padilla, and MORE Power President and CEO Roel Castro.
Now, onto the “etc.”
Private electric distribution utilities in Western Visayas and Negros, under billionaire Enrique Razon Jr.’s power portfolio, continue to offer the most competitive electricity rates in the region—far outpacing those of electric cooperatives.
MORE Power, the sole power distributor in Iloilo City, has consistently posted the lowest residential rates across Panay Island and Guimaras. For May 2024, its residential rate stood at ₱11.13 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) — significantly lower than rates charged by neighboring cooperatives.
This trend also holds true for the Negros Island Region. Since it began operations in November 2024, Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power) — a joint venture between Primelectric Holdings, Inc. and CENECO — has offered considerably lower rates. For May, Negros Power’s residential rate was ₱11.69/kWh, again undercutting nearby cooperatives.
Energy experts and market regulators attribute these lower rates to proactive power sourcing and sound contracting strategies.
According to MORE Power and Negros Power President/CEO Roel Castro, these competitive rates are a result of strategic power contracting through the Competitive Selection Process (CSP), along with real-time monitoring of price movements in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).
Well played, indeed./PN
