Miag-ao wants MORE

By Herbert Vego

WHAT is wrong with the Iloilo Electric Cooperative 1 (ILECO 1) in the eyes of electricity consumers in Miag-ao, Iloilo?

Why is there a public clamor for the privately-run MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) to compete with the cooperative, of which they are “owners”?

MORE Power is better known as the sole distribution utility energizing Iloilo City.

Strange as it seems, no less than the Sangguniang Bayan of Miag-ao has passed a resolution (SB Resolution B 2025-010) dated July 15, 2025, asking Congresswoman Janette Garin to initiate a legislative measure to expand the franchise of MORE Power to cover the entire First District, especially the municipality of Miagao.

The first congressional district also includes the municipalities of Guimbal, Igbaras, Oton, San Joaquin, Tigbauan, and Tubungan.

ILECO 1 covers all seven of them, plus the 2nd District municipalities of Leon, Pavia, Sta. Barbara and San Miguel.

As reported, no less than Miag-ao Mayor Richard Garin, the congresswoman’s husband, is in favor of the SB proposal sponsored by Councilor Jun Carlo Napulan.

To answer the above two questions, let me quote a portion of the SB resolution:

“The driving premise behind this initiative is the collective aspiration of the constituents to enjoy the same improved quality of electrical service currently available in areas already served by MORE Power. By broadening the franchise, the community aims to benefit from enhanced infrastructure, greater service reliability, and competitive pricing, which will contribute significantly to their economic development and day-to-day well-being.”

Some ILECO 1 customers have aired concerns about the quality of service they are receiving. These complaints often center on issues like power outages, high electricity bills, and slow response times to service requests.

It goes without saying that they are no longer happy with the inadequate services rendered by ILECO 1.

Incidentally, the aforementioned four towns within the 2nd District may now be serviced also by MORE Power by virtue of its expanded franchise to Passi City and 15 municipalities under Republic Act 11918.

Way back in 2021, then congressmen Michael Gorriceta of the 2nd District of Iloilo and Braeden John Biron of the 4th District co-authored a bill aimed at granting MORE Power a 25-year congressional franchise to operate in the aforementioned city and the 15 municipalities of Alimodian, Leganes, Leon, New Lucena, Pavia, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, Zarraga, Anilao, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Dingle, Dueñas, Dumangas and San Enrique.

RA 11918 allowed the firm to extend operations to areas currently served by Iloilo Electric Cooperatives I and II (Ileco I and II).

The new law, however, does not cancel the franchises of ILECO. It merely allowed MORE Power to extend operations and compete in areas currently served by Iloilo Electric Cooperatives 1 and 2 (ILECO 1 and 2).

As ruled by the Supreme Court (SC) in a decision dated July 30, 2024, electric cooperatives do not have a constitutional right to an exclusive franchise within their coverage areas.

More so because decades of wear and tear have turned the electric cooperatives’ viability into liability.  Being non-stock and non-profit public utilities, they now suffer from a shortage of logistics to replace and upgrade worn-out poles, power lines and facilities.

It is no secret that electric cooperatives in the Philippines are old.  They trace their roots from the year 1969 with the passage of Republic Act 6038, which created the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to initiate rural electrification with an initial capital stock of ₱1 billion.

Downsizing could be the solution to their financial woes today.

On the contrary, MORE Power has the proven capacity to expand. Within only five years of operation in Iloilo City, it has boosted its clientele from 62,000 to 100,000 customers, and still counting.

Taking into consideration the economies of scale, producing more goods or services effectively reduces per-unit price. MORE Power’s present residential rate of P10.61 per kilowatt-hour is the lowest in Western Visayas.

The company is now at work on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its core operations in order to enhance service efficiency with professional assistance from the experts at the Iloilo Science and Technology University (Isat-U).

To quote MORE Power president and chief executive officer Roel Z. Castro, “The AI will enable the analysis of recurring data that will give us predictive prescriptions.”