ILOILO City – MORE Electric and Power Corp.’s (MORE Power) takeover of the power distribution system here is a “triumph of the Ilonggos” seeking better service, said the power firm’s president and chief operating officer Roel Castro.
He assured consumers that MORE Power, which has a 25-year exclusive power distribution franchise in this city, will serve the Ilonggos with “high regards.”
“MORE Power will focus on its four
commitments as promised,” said Castro. These are:
• improvement of distribution system reliability
• minimization of franchise-wide outages
• commitment to competitive power rates
• customer satisfaction
Armed with a Writ of Possession from the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 23, MORE Power took control of the power substations of Panay Electric Co. (PECO) in the districts of La Paz, City Proper, Jaro, Mandurriao, and Molo on Friday last week.
“We are now in full control of the five substations,” Castro declared, “and we have competent and highly-skilled technical people manning the five substations.”
The franchise of PECO, the sole power distributor here for 96 years, expired on Jan. 19, 2019.
“We are sure to realize sooner our
business mantra – Sa MORE Power,
Ilonggo ang winner,” Castro said.
He, however, appealed to the Ilonggos to stay calm amid the transition period.
“To bring MORE Power to the level of a world-class electric distribution
utility, it will take at least three years to rehabilitate and improve the
inherited facilities given its state,” said Castro.
Congress refused to extend PECO’s franchise citing, among others, poor customer
service.
“We assure everyone that we are now on top of the situation. We have taken full control of the power substations and all distribution assets since Friday last week,” said Castro.
That night, MORE Power responded to 13 “troubleshooting” incidents and attended to almost 40 hotline calls, he revealed.
“MORE Power has quick response teams ready to cater and respond to Ilonggo power consumers’ needs and queries,” said Castro.
Over the weekend, more than 40 employees and third party employees of the former distribution utility operator applied for some 100 positions that MORE Power allocated for them.
This, said Castro, is in accordance with MORE Power’s franchise to give preference in hiring those who will be “displaced” during the transition period.
Starting today, March 2, MORE Power’s new corporate office is at the PRO FRIENDS Building, along IV-C General Luna Street, Barangay Inday, Iloilo City.
Castro thanked Mayor Jerry Treñas, among other city and provincial officials, for “the solid support to MORE Power.”
“Ï am also grateful to all Ilonggos who greeted us with the kindest of words,” said Castro.
MORE Power’s official Facebook page was “flooded” with congratulatory messages from netizens after the takeover, he said.
On Feb. 14, 2019 President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law MORE Power’s franchise, Republic Act (RA) 11212.
In March 2019 MORE Power asked RTC Iloilo City Branch 37 to issue a writ of possession authorizing it to take immediate control, operation, use, and disposition of PECO’s power distribution system assets.
In seeking the expropriation of PECO’s assets, MORE Power cited Section 10 of RA 11212 and Rule 67 Section 2 of the Revised Rules of Court authorizing it to take possession of, exercise control over, and manage and operate all of the power distribution assets in Iloilo City.
The expropriation of PECO’s assets in its favor, according to MORE Power, would allow it to “immediately address and correct poor services, overcharging, frequent brownouts, expensive rates, old and unsafe facilities and practices, and other service deficiencies that this city’s power users and consumers had long suffered.”/PN
