Treñas backs up MORE, slams PECO

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas slammed Panay Electric Company, Inc., (PECO) for claiming that it is still the power distributor in Iloilo City.

Treñas issued a statement Friday in a bid to end the “repetitive issues that have beset the city for several weeks.”

“I am dismayed by the continued paid advertisements and press releases of Panay Electric Company, Inc., (PECO) claiming that it is still the power distributor in Iloilo City and the MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) has no Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) which have caused confusion and uncertainly to the minds of the Iloilo City consumers,” the mayor said.

Treñas said MORE Power is now the bonafide and legitimate distribution utility in Iloilo City “having been issued the authority to operate by the Energy Regulatory (ERC) and for having an existing legislative franchise from Congress.”

“On the other hand, PECO’s franchise had expired, its application for renewal of franchise was denied, and its provisional CPCN was revoked by the ERC. Operating the distribution system will be tantamount to committing an illegal act.”

Treñas said that if PECO is dissatisfied with the latest ruling the ERC, “it is entitled to seek the reliefs afforded to it by law and it is well within its rights to do so.”

“However, I enjoin the parties concerned to let the issues be ventilated before the proper tribunals and to spare the public from further media skirmishes.”