IT WAS supposed to be smooth sailing once the legal requirements in Congress had been sorted out — and it does seem to be heading that way.
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 inevitable has already happened, and now we’re just waiting for MORE Power’s electric posts and distribution lines to start going in that direction.
Meanwhile, MORE Power has already started — and continues — to expand its services beyond Iloilo City into nearby areas of 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 was 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, with other establishments in Pavia beginning to shift 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. Marlu’s became the first restaurant in Pavia to switch to MORE Power, while Panay News became the first publishing company in the municipality to do so.
And the latest major business establishments in Pavia to jump on the MORE Power bandwagon are Vitarich Corporation and Visayas Coco Development Incorporated.
Vitarich Corporation, a leading feed mill company, has completed its migration to MORE Power, while Visayas Coco Development Inc., a coconut oil manufacturer, has also joined the distribution utility.
It looks like things are well on their way in the 2nd District. As for the 1st District, I suppose they’re just slow starters, and the concept of “One Iloilo, One Rate, One Service” still hasn’t quite sunk in yet.
Moving on, another issue — a problem and persistent irritant to the natives of “I Am Iloilo City” — is the recurring red and yellow alerts that result in Manual Load Dropping. What should be an emergency measure has seemingly taken on a life of its own as a daily nuisance.
And before you start blaming MORE Power, take note: it is a power distribution utility. Meaning, it distributes electricity to consumers; it does not generate the electricity itself.
In fact, MORE Power’s billing depends on electricity consumption. If there’s no power because of Manual Load Dropping, there’s nothing to consume and, consequently, nothing to bill. In short, the distribution utility also loses revenue every time the power goes out.
Perhaps out of either infinite wisdom or sheer desperation, Iloilo City Councilor Romel Duron has called on investors to fund the construction of a subsea grid extension loop connecting Panay, Mindoro, and Batangas.
The proposed secondary transmission line is expected to provide a critical backup route by directly linking the Panay grid to Luzon’s broader energy supply.
The councilor noted that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has opened power transmission to private capital through Resolution No. 18, series of 2026.
Perhaps the good councilor has MORE Power in mind to bankroll this ambitious project.
Or perhaps, with all these red and yellow alerts, Iloilo simply needs more power — literally and figuratively./PN
