MORE Power employees buy over 200 melons from Iloilo farmers

ILOILO CITY — MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) is supporting the city’s urban farmers through produce purchases and donations of farm supplies and equipment.

The Iloilo City Agriculturist Office and Ticud Farmers Association led a harvest festival in Barangay Ticud, La Paz, on Sept. 24, 2026.

The event was part of a joint initiative of the city government and the power distributor.

Ely Estante, executive assistant to the mayor and a former city councilor, was among those who attended.

MORE Power said its employees helped harvest and bought more than 200 hybrid melons of the Fujisawa and Inthanon varieties during the festival.

The event also featured freshly harvested vegetables and other fruits for employees and community members to buy directly from farmers.

The melons were weighed and purchased immediately after harvesting, while other produce was brought to the MORE Power office for employees to buy.

The Department of Agriculture also turned over a greenhouse with a hydroponics facility to the Ticud Farmers Association under its National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP).

Hydroponics uses nutrient-rich water to grow plants without soil, according to the Department of Agriculture.

“Kami sa Iloilo City Agriculturist nagakalipay gid nga natigayon ang ini nga project although indi gid ini mahapos from the start since madamo kita gina-consider lakip na kay urban area kita. So ang pinaka-challenge gid ang vacant space. Nagapasalamat gid kami sa MORE Power sa inyo nga support sa City Agriculturist kag sa mga farmers association. Nangin possible ini nga project sa commitment man sang Ticud Farmers Association kag especially sa funding sang DA-NUPAP,” said Luna Elisel, NUPAP coordinator at the City Agriculturist Office.

Association members received cucumber and chili pepper seedlings for the next planting season.

MORE Power also donated liquid fertilizer and grass cutters to help farmers prepare for subsequent crop cycles.

“Si MORE Power ever since naga-donate gid sang mga seedlings and fertilizer. Daku gid nga bulig sa kay farmers nga ginabakal ninyo ang ila mga produkto. Nalipay gid ang mga farmers nga sa field pa lang, naka-income na sila. Bulig gid ini sa ila para maka-recycle sila sang bag-o nga crop,” Elisel added.

According to the company, the association reinvests proceeds from vegetable sales in farm inputs for the next planting season.

MORE Power said it has assisted Iloilo City farmers since 2021, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, when communities faced food security concerns.

The company said it continues to work with the city government, City Agriculturist Office, and farmers’ associations to support urban food production and livelihoods.

Its support combines farm supplies and equipment with direct produce purchases.