THE INEVITABLE has happened — and there’s no stopping it. At best, it will only get better.
The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill expanding the franchise of MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) to cover the municipalities of Iloilo’s 1st District, a move supporters say could bring faster and more reliable electricity services to southern Iloilo.
House Bill 7647 seeks to amend Sections 11, 16, and 21 of Republic Act No. 11212, as previously amended by Republic Act No. 11918. The original law granted MORE Power a franchise to establish, operate, and maintain an electric power distribution system in Iloilo City and in the province’s 2nd and 4th districts.
The proposed expansion makes it possible for residents of the 1st District to benefit from the fast, reliable, and modern electric power distribution services that MORE Power has been known to deliver. It is also expected to help spur economic growth not only in Iloilo City but across neighboring municipalities in the province.
Once enacted, the vision of “One Iloilo, One Rate, One Service” will move from concept to reality — and, once realized, an even more enhanced version can be expected.
Moving forward, Iloilo City’s sole power distribution utility, MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), is advancing its vision of a unified electricity rate across Iloilo, saying the move will simplify investment decisions and boost local economic growth.
According to MORE Power president and chief executive officer Roel Z. Castro, the concept of “One Iloilo, One Rate, One Service” aims to establish a gold standard of service across the province, ensuring that superior power reliability is guaranteed regardless of where a business chooses to invest.
In an interview, Castro said, “The benefit of this is that investors won’t be confused about where to invest within Iloilo. If the rate is the same, that confusing factor is removed from their decision-making.”
With uniform power rates, investors can then focus on other considerations such as location, real estate costs, and the overall business environment.
Simply put, it becomes easier for investors. Whether they choose the city or the province, the rate is the same. It will no longer be a deciding factor — they can simply determine which location in Iloilo is most practical for their business.
The transformation of this concept into reality is already underway, as MORE Power continues to expand its services beyond Iloilo City into nearby areas in the province.
As expected, MORE Power has begun supplying electricity to the progressive municipality of Pavia in Iloilo Province’s 2nd District, marking a significant step toward integrating power distribution across the province.
In fact, several major establishments in Pavia have already transitioned to MORE Power, including the campus of the University of St. La Salle currently under construction.
One of the most notable developments is the recent transfer of International Builders Corporation (IBC) to MORE Power. IBC became the first consumer in the company’s expanded franchise area to shift from another distribution utility — a move described as a historic first in the country. The transition was completed within just a few hours and without service interruption, demonstrating the company’s technical capability to handle large-scale migrations.
That move set the ball rolling, as other establishments in Pavia began shifting their power supply to MORE Power.
This was followed by the Iloilo Supermart branch in Barangay Jibao-an, which became the first mall in the expanded franchise area to complete its migration.
Two more establishments — Panay News and Marlu’s Restaurant — also successfully transitioned to the utility firm. The restaurant became the first in Pavia to switch to MORE Power, while Panay News marked the first publishing company in the municipality to do so.
These four major establishments represent only the beginning, as more than 10 additional establishments in the 2nd District are scheduled to migrate within the first quarter of the year.
Ultimately, as more areas and establishments make the shift, the vision of “One Iloilo, One Rate, One Service” moves closer to full realization./PN
