Passi exec says city supports MORE Power expansion bill

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Vice Mayor Jesry Palmares of Passi City, Iloilo said Friday that their city government supports the bills filed by Ilonggo lawmakers that seek to expand MORE Electric and Power Corporation’s (MORE Power) franchise coverage to the only component city of the province.

House Bill No. 10258, which was filed Tuesday (Sept. 21) by 4th district Representative Braeden John Biron, seeks to include municipalities in the 2nd and 4th districts of Iloilo province in MORE Power’s service area.

MORE Power is the sole power distributor in Iloilo City.

A similar bill, House Bill No. 10271, was filed by Biron and 2nd district Rep. Michael Gorriceta on Wednesday, with the same content.

Both bills aim to amend Republic Act No. 11212, MORE Power’s legislative franchise law, which currently limits the company’s electric power coverage to Iloilo City.

Passi City is part of Iloilo province’s 4th legislative district, along with the towns of Anilao, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Dingle, Dueñas, Dumangas, and San Enrique.

The province’s 2nd district includes Alimodian, Leganes, Leon, New Lucena, Pavia, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, and Zarraga towns.

In an interview with Bombo Radyo Iloilo, Palmares said that he and Passi City Mayor Stephen Palmares talked to MORE Power and asked about their recent power rate adjustments.

He said that the company’s rates were cheaper compared to their current power provider.

MORE Power’s average rates are at P6.38 per kilowatt hour for residential lines, P6.11 for commercial lines, and P6.05 for power lines.

Vice Mayor Palmares said he was hoping that Iloilo City’s power distributor can enter Passi soon, citing more investments which have been pouring into the city.

“When we heard about MORE Power, Mayor Stephen and I decided to talk to them, and they explained that they had rate adjustments which was more than [P2.00] lower than what we are currently paying. I think this is beneficial to all businessmen, investors, and malls and small and medium-scale industries here in Passi,” Palmares said.

He clarified that they are in good terms with their current provider, Iloilo II Electric Cooperative (ILECO II), but their preference for MORE Power was based on its lower rates.

ILECO II’s September rates, as posted on its Facebook page, is P11.15 for residential, P10.05 for low voltage, and P8.66 for high voltage.

“We don’t have problems [with ILECO II] in general. Every now and then we know that situations come up, and even in the middle of the night we call them up to ask for help, where they respond accordingly. But of course, the cost of our bill per kilowatt hour is really so high compared to other regions and other areas in Region 6. With the opening of a new power supplier, we are also open-minded to accept it,” he said.

The vice-mayor said that the city council has already approved a resolution last Sept. 21 endorsing MORE Power’s takeover of power distribution in the city, which would be forwarded soon to Biron.

Passi City is the latest local government to pass a resolution in favor of MORE Power, following previous resolutions passed by town councils of Pavia, Leganes, and Zarraga.