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.