MORE Power welcomes Ilonggo jurist to board

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

 

Placing an independent Ilonggo director in the board of MORE Electric and Power Corp (MORE Power) is part of the distribution utility’s commitment to bring world class and credible services to Ilonggos.

This was the reaction of MORE Power President and COO Roel Z. Castro to the appointment of retired Ilonggo Supreme Court Justice Francis H. Jardeleza as independent director of the company.

Castro told Daily Guardian that they are happy that Jardeleza accepted the role which will bolster MORE Power’s plans and programs to improve Iloilo City’s distribution services.

Castro described Jardeleza as a credible and experienced jurist and lawyer, especially in corporate law and governance.

“We need independent directors as mandated by corporate governance rules. And what’s worth noting is that our independent director is a son of Iloilo City, a full-blooded Ilonggo who will look after the interest of the city and its residents. He can gather feedbacks from Ilonggos which he can relay to the board and management. These inputs will further boost our dream of a world class distribution system and services in Iloilo City,” he added.

Castro vowed to work closely with Jardeleza, particularly on the corporate governance side, to further upgrade the city’s power industry.

“With his wisdom and acumen through his years of service in both the public and private spheres, Justice Jardeleza is a very big boost to MORE Power’s thrusts in the coming years,” he added.

Jardeleza earlier said he decided to join MORE Power’s board of directors as he wants to help the city achieve a world-class and competitive power distribution system.

“I have learned a lot of improvements there since MORE Power began its operations. There are incremental improvements, and we can do more. I hope to help in my own way,” he added.

With the legal questions against MORE Power’s franchise already settled by the Supreme Court, Jardeleza said Ilonggos should help each other in improving further the power distribution services in the city.

“I thank MORE Power and the Ilonggos for giving me a chance to give back. It’s what you call paying forward. It’s a good thing that I can help in whatever way,” he said.

Jardeleza said his Ilonggo roots is more of an advantage in his new responsibility as he can always get a feel of what is happening in Iloilo City.

Despite staying in Metro Manila all throughout his professional life, Jardeleza said he never forgot his roots.

“My wife is from Roxas City and in our home here, we speak Hiligaynon,” he added.

Independent directors in companies with investments of more than P50 million, or the so-called companies with public interest, are mandated by the code of corporate governance, Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

An independent director is a person who, apart from his or her fees and shareholdings, is independent of management and free from any business or other relationship that could, or could reasonably be seen to, interfere with his or her exercise of independent judgment in carrying out his or her responsibilities as a director.

Before joining the government, Jardeleza was an expert in corporate law having worked for ACCRA Law Offices, one of the country’s top law firms; and became Senior Vice-President and General Legal Counsel of San Miguel Corp in 1996.

He remained with San Miguel until 2010 when he was appointed Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon by President Benigno Aquino III.

On February 6, 2012, Jardeleza’s appointment as Solicitor General of the Philippines was announced, following the resignation of Jose Anselmo Cadiz. He took his oath of office as Solicitor General on February 20, 2012.

On August 19, 2014, President Aquino appointed Jardeleza as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, succeeding retired Justice Roberto Abad. On September 26, 2019, Jardeleza retired upon reaching his 70th birthday.