Big Ilonggo Businesses Migrated to MORE Power in Q1 2026

Pavia, Iloilo – Malls, food chains, hotels, BPOs, publication offices, and even construction firms are among the diverse sectors now served by MORE Power, as the company continues to expand its reach. In the first quarter of 2026, MORE Power accommodated the migration of several major accounts seeking reliable service, cost efficiency, and customer-friendly support for their thriving operations.

The latest to make the migration is Waffle Time Inc., a prominent Ilonggo business franchise, for its commissary in Brgy. Pagsangaan, Pavia, Iloilo. The company successfully transferred its load to MORE Power as its primary power source. Just last month, Taytay sa Kauswagan (TSKI), a major finance firm and hotel operator, along with Gateway Hotel, completed their migration on March 27, 2026. TSKI CEO and President Mr. Peter Talbanban and Gateway Hotel Chief Operating Officer Mr. Wendell Hofanda led the migration ceremony. “The primary expectation is better service and lower costs, especially amid the current Middle East crisis. All expenses are rising, making this the ideal time to migrate to MORE Power and reduce our electricity bills. Our TSKI main office is here in Pavia and serves all branch needs. If we experience a brownout, it disrupts our entire digitalized system, so reliable power is crucial,” said Mr. Peter Talbanban, TSKI CEO and President. “I’d like to thank MORE Power for reaching out to us. We were surprised by their initiative, and we’re thrilled about this partnership, which promises lower electricity costs and superior service,” he added.

This migration underscores the trust these companies place in MORE Power to deliver long-term reliable electricity for their establishments. “This marks a win for consumers who seek better quality of electricity, fair pricing, and improved service. MORE Power’s values have always been centered on the welfare of its consumers. We have heard the clamor and understood the needs of the consumers—this is why we have expanded to the province of Iloilo. I am truly grateful for the trust of the consumers in Pavia, Iloilo”, said Mr. Roel Z. Castro, President and CEO of MORE Power. MORE Power launched operations in Iloilo Province this year after finalizing its facilities. This was enabled nearly five years ago on September 20, 2021, when 2nd District Representative Michael Gorriceta and 4th District Representative Braeden John Biron filed for the company’s franchise expansion to deliver modern, reliable power distribution to towns in their districts. The well-timed migration ceremony highlighted MORE Power’s readiness to support consumers’ needs for dependable, modern power distribution.

DOE Honors MORE Power and Negros Power for exemplary Compliance

Taguig City, April 24, 2026 – In a testament to operational excellence and unwavering commitment to transparency, the Department of Energy (DOE) awarded plaques of appreciation to MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) and Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power) for their timely and full compliance with critical reportorial requirements. The recognition highlights the two distribution utilities’ adherence to DOE Department Circular No. DC2023-03-0005. This circular provides supplemental policies for the systematic management of DOE reportorial requirements in the electric power industry, ensuring accurate data flow for participants - distribution utilities, for the year 2025. Plaques, signed by Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevarra, Ph.D., were presented at the Energy Center in Bonifacio Global City. It underscores compliance’s vital role amid rising power demand from industrialization, renewables, and climate risks, enabling better grid monitoring, outage prevention, and policy reforms. MORE Power serves Iloilo City and nearby areas in Iloilo, while Negros Power operates in Central Negros as the sole electric power distributor. Their efforts support DOE’s data-driven Visayas grid, which is critical post-El Niño and during electrification pushes. “Full compliance equips DOE with important insights that may contribute to accelerating projects like grid modernization and renewables rollout,” said Roel Z. Castro, President and CEO of both MORE Power and Negros Power. “Timely reporting helps streamline DOE approvals, cuts delays, and aids in advancing national electrification targets,” he added. As the Philippines aims for full household electrification by 2028 under DOE’s program, such compliance sets a standard for sector reliability.

Department of Energy Recognizes Proactive Policies of Iloilo City and MORE Power

Iloilo City – Energy Secretary Sharon Garin recently highlighted Iloilo City’s significant 14% increase in power demand in 2025, well ahead of the national average. According to Garin, this growth stems from programs led by Mayor Raisa Treñas in collaboration with MORE Electric and Power Corporation. She noted that it reflects progress not just in business but in every household, as consumers gain the capacity to purchase additional electrical appliances - a key driver of the city’s rising demand. Recently, the Department of Energy and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) visited Iloilo City to promote the Expanded Lifeline Rate Program. However, the Iloilo City Government and MORE Power have implemented the original Lifeline Rate Program since its launch in July 2023, outpacing other cities. Today, Iloilo City has 6,310 Lifeline Program beneficiaries: 4,360 from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the rest from indigent communities or marginalized residents. “I have to say ang mga policies sang LGU together sang MORE is one of the best ones in the country nga ginacopy ina namon ang programa diri sa Iloilo City,” says Sec. Garin. Under the Expanded program, 4Ps households consuming 50 kWh or less per month receive a 100% discount, with automatic enrollment. Beyond the Lifeline Rate Program, the ERC commended MORE Power’s Bill Deposit Refund initiative. To date, MORE Power has refunded P9.2 million in bill deposits to 1,421 consumer accounts that paid bills on time for 36 consecutive months. This follows the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers, which requires distribution utilities to refund deposits after such consistent payments. MORE Power proactively notifies eligible consumers via bills, text, email, and calls, encouraging them to visit the office for refunds by check or bill credit, rather than just wait for the consumers to apply. The ERC witnessed MORE Power’s Bill Deposit Refund program firsthand, prompting the agency to spotlight this Magna Carta provision, and encourage distribution utilities nationwide to deliver the same benefits to their eligible consumers.

PHINMA UI expands student support amid uncertain times

ILOILO City – In response to the rising cost of daily expenses and the challenges faced by students, PHINMA University of Iloilo (PHINMA UI) reinforces its commitment to “making lives better through education” by expanding its Student Support Programs. The enhanced programs are part of the “Kaupod sa Pagpadayon” campaign, a university-wide initiative that encourages students to continue and complete their college education despite economic and social challenges. As part of this campaign, PHINMA UI recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region VI (DSWD-VI) to strengthen the Hawak Kamay Scholarship Program, which is specifically designed for incoming first-year students from 4Ps beneficiary families. Under this partnership, eligible students will receive up to 80% scholarship grants, providing crucial financial support for their education.

“The Hawak Kamay Scholarship is our way of ensuring that deserving students can continue their studies without being hindered by financial difficulties,” said Martin Benedict Perez, PHINMA UI Chief Operating Officer. “Through this initiative, we hope to empower students to focus on learning while we help address their challenges.” Present during the event was DSWD-VI Asst. Regional Director for Operations Katherine Lamprea, who represented DSWD-VI Regional Director Joselito Estember during the Ceremonial Memorandum of Agreement Signing. She expressed strong support for the program, highlighting the tangible benefits it provides to 4Ps beneficiaries and their families.

Providing the right support For the upcoming Academic Year, PHINMA UI is intensifying efforts to support students’ daily needs through several key initiatives. To address the students’ need for safe, accessible, and affordable spaces, especially those who originally came from outside Iloilo City, PHINMA UI has partnered with boarding houses near the university to provide discounted rates for PHINMA UI students. With the rising prices of transportation, PHINMA UI is also piloting its Transportation Allowance Program, wherein 200 students will be initially selected to ease the burden of commuting. Meanwhile, working students can now continue their education without sacrificing income, with evening programs available for Hospitality Management, Tourism Management, Education, and Business Administration students.

Quality education made affordable Aside from the Hawak Kamay Scholarship, PHINMA UI provides flexible financial schemes, interest-free student loans, and flexible payment terms to make college more accessible. Additionally, the university has lowered its all-in fees for the incoming Academic Year, the lowest among private universities in Iloilo, to ensure that no student is left behind. “Lowering our costs does not compromise the quality of our education. PHINMA UI continues to deliver excellent results, as seen in our recognition as the Top 1 Criminology School in the Philippines in the February 2026 Criminology Licensure Examination,” Perez added. Other than Criminology, PHINMA UI also maintains high board passing rates across other programs, including Education, Nursing, Psychology, Pharmacy, Accountancy, and Engineering, producing hundreds of board passers since 2009. With these initiatives, PHINMA UI remains steadfast in supporting its students not just academically, but financially, ensuring that education remains a pathway to opportunity even in uncertain times.

Iloilo City Urban Farmers Harvest Over 200 Kilos of Vegetables in Harvest Festival with MORE Power

ILOILO CITY — More than 200 kilograms of fresh vegetables were harvested during the Harvest Festival in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City, marking another successful collaboration between local farmers and private partners.

The activity was headed by the Iloilo City Agriculturist Office and Tacas San Isidro Farmers Association under the program of Mayor Raisa Treñas, in partnership with Iloilo City's sole electricity distributor MORE Power.

A total of 204.9 kilograms of assorted vegetables were gathered during the event, including string beans, radish, okra, corn, squash, watermelon, bananas, melon, tomatoes, and other crops.

Employees of MORE Power participated alongside members of the farmers’ association in harvesting the crops. The vegetables were then immediately transported to the company’s office, where they were sold to employees—demonstrating a direct farm-to-market approach.

In addition to the harvest, members of the Tacas San Isidro Farmers Association received 160 packs of seeds and 10 sacks of fertilizer from MORE Power, which will be used for their next planting cycle.

Harvest Festival is considered a community development initiative, as proceeds from the sale of the harvested vegetables are reinvested as capital for the next planting season, ensuring the sustainability of the project and continued support for local farmers.

“It has been the practice of MORE to assist our urban vegetable farmers by providing seed inputs. They have further elevated this support by helping organize the first-ever Iloilo City Farmers Congress. The latest activity was the Harvest Festival, where MORE employees actively participated in harvesting, purchasing, and helping sell the products—demonstrating a holistic approach from production to marketing. Thank you, Sir Roel. This yearly activity is even more significant now due to the rising fuel costs. MORE power to our urban farmers! ” said Inigo Garingalao, department head of the Iloilo City Agriculturist Office.

The initiative highlights MORE Power’s commitment not only to providing reliable electricity but also to foster community development and creating opportunities for local farmers across Iloilo City.

Senado Gin Review ang Franchise Application sang Power Utilities sang Primelectric

Pasay City – Nagtipon ang Senate Committee on Public Services nga ginapamunuan ni Senator Raffy Tulfo sang Marso 18, 2026 agud mag deliberate sa duha ka prankisa nga sakup sang kumpaniya sang Primelectric Holdings Inc. 

Dire ginpatpat ang franchise extension request para sa Bohol Light Company Incorporated kag ang franchise expansion para sa MORE Electric and Power Corporation. 

Ginpresenta ni Mr. Roel Z. Castro, President kag Chief Executive Officer sang duha ka mga utilities ang performance sang duha ka kumpaniya. Iya gindetalye ang operational improvements kag justification sa likod sang mga legislative requests.

MORE Power: Expansion Amid Strong Performance Metrics

Ang MORE Electric and Power Corporation nga nag-operate sa idalum sang legislative franchise sa Iloilo City sa sulod sang 6 ka tuig ang nagatinguha nga mas palaparon pa gid ang coverage area sini. 

Ginalakipan sang proposal ang pito ka mga munisipalidad sa First District sang Iloilo Province nga ginsponsoran ni Congresswoman Janet Garin bangud sa paghingyo sang mga pumuluyo. Kun matigayon, mangin kaupod sini ang segundo kag kwarto distrito nga nauna nga nangin kabahin sa expanded franchise sang MORE Power.

Ginhighlight ni Mr. Castro ang mga makabuluhan nga operational improvement sang MORE Power sumugod nga nag operate ang power company sa Iloilo City.

Natigayon nga mapanubo ang system loss humalin sa 28% sa 5% na gid lamang kag ginpadamu pa gid ang customer base sini gikan sa 62,000 tubtob 107,000 kag ginpanubuan ang System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) kag ang System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) sang kapin 90%.

Nagpabutyag man si Castro nga ang MORE Electric, Negros Power kag Bohol Light nga lunsay ginamanage sang Primelectric Holdings ang may pinakamanubo nga electricity rates sa Visayas.

Nakitaan naman sang mga government agencies sang compliant assessment ang duha ka mga utilities. 

Suno sa Department of Energy (DOE), organisado ang reportorial kag iban nga requirements apang may dugang pa nga probisyon para sa mga regulatory layers.

Ginkumpirma man sang Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ang performance, system reliability, system loss kag power quality standards sang power company. 

Ang Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) gin verify ang regular tax filing kag mga balayran patimaan nga wala sang mga open cases.

Nagpabutyag man ang Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) nga compliant sa mga reporting requirements ang power company kag sila ang maga submit sang opisyal nga position paper.

Wala naman sang pagpamalabag ang Philippine Competition Commission (PCC). Nagsumite man ini sang position paper. 

Nagapabilin naman nga neutral ang Commission on Audit (COA) apang ila ginpabutyag nga kinahanglan nga may probisyon para sa full audit access, transparency, financial disclosure kag accountability.

Wala naman sang pagpamalabag ang Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Wala sila sang na record nga labor inspection coverage kag kung ano man nga pending labor standard cases.

Wala man sang ginpabutyag nga kung ano nga pagpamalabag ang Iloilo Electric Cooperatives samtang ginahiwat ang proceedings.

Bohol Light: Post-Acquisition

Nangin kabahin sang Primelectric Holdings ang Bohol Light sang 2024 sa diin nag acquire ini sang 70% sang Salcon Power group. Ang nabilin nga 30% ginapanag-iyahan pa sang Provincial Government sang Bohol.

Humalin sang takeover, nagreport si Mr. Castro sang pipila ka mga operational advancements lakip na dire ang pag expand sang customer base sang masobra 1,000 ka mga pamalay ilabi na dire ang low-load nga lugar. 

Mas ginpahapos kag ginstreamline ang payment process pinaagi sa pagbaton sang bayad sa barangay level sa Tagbilaran City agud mabuhinan ang documentary requirements para sa bag-o nga applicants sa apat na gid lamang ka mga items. 

Suno kay Mr. Castro, ginpreserba sang power company ang 100% sang workforce sini samtang mas ginpasangkad ang benepisyo sang mga empleyado kaangay sang health insurance kag fourteenth-month pay.

Matapus ang presentasyon kag review sang nagkalain-lain nga mga government agencies, ginrefer ang duha ka bills sa technical working group (TWG) para sa dugang nga konsiderasyon.

Magapadayun man ang committee sa pag review sang mga ginaduso nga proposal kag probisyon para magbalay sang rekomendasyon agud mas maplastar sang maayo antes mapasaka ang hagna para sa dugang nga legislative process sa Senado.

House Approves Bill Expanding MORE Power Franchise to Iloilo’s 1st District

 

The MORE Power expansion bill, authored by Representative Janette Garin, was approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives of the Philippines during its session last Tuesday.

The measure seeks to include the municipalities of Iloilo’s 1st District in the franchise area of MORE Electric and Power Corporation.

The approval came after Jeffrey Ferrer, chair of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, presented the panel’s favorable recommendation to the plenary.

House Bill 7647 proposes amendments to Sections 11, 16, and 21 of Republic Act No. 11212, as previously amended by Republic Act No. 11918. The original law granted MORE Power a franchise to establish, operate, and maintain an electric power distribution system in Iloilo City and districts two and four, ensuring the continuous and reliable delivery of electricity to consumers within its service area.

During the plenary vote, the bill garnered overwhelming support, with 247 lawmakers voting in favor, four opposing, and no abstentions, paving the way for its transmission to the Senate of the Philippines for consideration. The Senate is expected to conduct its own series of committee hearings for the proposed measure.

If enacted, the bill would allow MORE Power to expand its distribution services to the municipalities of Igbaras, Tubungan, Oton, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miag-ao, and San Joaquin.

While the said municipalities are presently served by Iloilo I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ILECO 1), Garin emphasized that the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines clearly states that franchises for public utilities should not be exclusive, and the Supreme Court has affirmed this.

Garin also pointed out that these local government units in the district have already passed resolutions urging Congress to expand MORE Power’s franchise coverage so their constituents can benefit from what they described as faster, more reliable, and responsive electricity services.

“The respective towns in the First District of Iloilo Province have passed resolutions requesting assistance in passing a measure that would allow them to be covered by MORE Power’s franchise area,” Garin said. “This would enable their residents to benefit from the fast, reliable, and modern electric power distribution services that MORE Power has been known to deliver.”

Supporters see the proposed expansion as a potential step toward accelerating economic growth not only in Iloilo City but also in neighboring municipalities across the province.

#morepower

#iloilo

#iloiloprportal