ILOILO CITY — The story of transformation in Western Visayas is often told through skylines, investments, and economic growth.
But behind it all is something more fundamental — power.
Not just electricity, but reliable, stable, and trusted electricity.
For Iloilo City, that transformation began in 2020, when MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) took over a struggling distribution system and began rebuilding it from the ground up.
What started as a local turnaround has since evolved into a regional energy network — now reaching Negros and Bohol under Primelectric Holdings Inc. (PHI) — and reshaping how communities experience power.
Rewriting the power story in Iloilo
When MORE Power assumed operations, it inherited a system with over 30 percent system loss — a reflection of inefficiency, outdated infrastructure, and years of underinvestment.
For Roel Z. Castro, President and CEO, the challenge was both technical and transformative.
“Electricity isn’t just a commodity. It is an enabler,” Castro said.
“When done right, a well-run distribution utility can attract investment, unlock economic potential, and improve the lives of the people in the community it serves.”
The company invested heavily — over ₱3 billion in five years — upgrading substations, modernizing systems, and strengthening its network.
The results were dramatic:
- System loss reduced to around 5.50 percent
- Power interruption frequency dropped by 87.6 percent
- Interruption duration decreased by 87.4 percent
- Customer base expanded from 60,000 to over 107,000
“These aren’t incremental improvements — these are transformational changes,” Castro emphasized.
Powering economic confidence
Reliable electricity did more than keep the lights on — it powered growth.
Businesses expanded. Investors gained confidence. Iloilo City climbed to 5th place among highly urbanized cities in the 2024 competitiveness rankings.
“Reliable power sends a clear signal — that a city is ready,” Castro said.
And that signal was heard.
From Iloilo to a larger mission
The success of MORE Power became the foundation for Primelectric Holdings Inc., established in 2023.
“Our vision was to be a catalyst for transformative energy solutions,” Castro said.
“Not just as a business, but as a partner in national development.”
The goal: bring the same model of investment and operational excellence to other high-potential areas.
“Many distribution utilities were falling behind — not because communities lacked potential, but because systems lacked support,” he explained.
Primelectric set out to close that gap.
Negros: rebuilding and accelerating
In Negros, through Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power), the company encountered a system in urgent need of rehabilitation.
“The actual condition of the network required significantly more rehabilitation than initially assessed,” Castro said.
Instead of slowing down, investments were accelerated.
“Originally, the plan was ₱2.1 billion over five years. But we spent over ₱1.3 billion in 2025 alone, and we’ve earmarked another ₱1.4 billion for 2026,” he added.
“This reflects our commitment to quickly close infrastructure gaps and improve reliability.”
The upgrades focused on replacing aging poles, wires, and transformers, while modernizing substations and expanding capacity and energizing unserved sitios.
“These efforts are aimed at minimizing interruptions and ensuring faster restoration when they occur,” Castro explained.
The results followed quickly:
- Interruption frequency reduced by 72 percent
- Interruption duration decreased by 70 percent
- System loss brought down to 6.87 percent
- Energized 45 new sitios
“These improvements are about more than numbers,” Castro said.
“They directly impact daily life and economic activity.”
Looking ahead, Negros Power is shifting toward long-term expansion.
“Over the next 12 months, we are developing new substations and upgrading our 69kV sub-transmission lines,” Castro said.
“This will allow us to support growing demand and deliver power more reliably across the entire franchise area.”
Tested by disaster, defined by response
When typhoons hit Negros in November 2025, the scale of damage tested the system.
Nearly 250,000 customers were affected.
“The restoration required an all-hands response,” Castro recalled.
“It involved our teams, contractors, local leaders, and communities.”
Support came from across the Primelectric network.
“Teams from MORE Power in Iloilo and Bohol Light were deployed to Negros,” he said.
Within just over three weeks, full restoration was achieved.
“What made us proud was not just the speed, but how it was done,” Castro said.
“It showed the kind of coordination and care that defines our group.”
Bohol: redefining customer care
In Bohol, transformation focused on the customer.
Through Bohol Light Company, Inc., Primelectric introduced a more modern, service-oriented approach.
“This is about shifting from reactive service to proactive engagement,” Castro said.
The company rolled out a range of innovations:
- A 24/7 helpline and centralized control center
- The “Spot Bill” system for instant billing
- Expanded digital and payment channels
- ₱1 billion in infrastructure investments
“These systems are designed to shorten response times, improve transparency, and make services more accessible,” Castro explained.
The improvements extend to reliability as well.
“By replacing aging assets and integrating modern technology, we reduce the risk of failure and shorten outages,” he said.
Real-time monitoring also allows faster response and better planning.
“With better data and a stronger network, we can build a system that is more resilient and responsive to customer needs,” Castro added.
A model for national growth
From Iloilo to Negros to Bohol, a pattern has emerged — one defined by investment, innovation, and measurable results.
Primelectric now aims to expand further, including a proposed partnership in South Cotabato.
“The story of national development cannot be told through Manila alone,” Castro said.
“Visayas and Mindanao are critical, and reliable power is key to unlocking their potential.”
Power as progress
At its core, the growth of Primelectric is not just about expansion — it is about impact.
“We don’t approach expansion as a purely commercial exercise,” Castro said.
“We go where we are needed most and where we can make the biggest difference.”
From rebuilding trust in Iloilo to modernizing systems in Negros and enhancing service in Bohol, the company’s footprint continues to grow — grounded in a single principle:
That electricity, when done right, can change lives.
The current that connects
Back in Iloilo, the lights shine steadily — a quiet but powerful symbol of change.
What began as a local effort to fix a broken system has grown into a regional model for transformation.
From restoring trust in one city to building a network across islands, the journey of MORE Power and Primelectric reflects what is possible when vision meets execution.
In every community they serve, the impact is the same:
Stronger systems.
Growing economies.
Empowered people.
Because in the end, electricity is more than power.
It is progress.
