MORE Power Prexy Welcomes Removal of VAT on Systems Loss, Meanwhile DOE Secretary Garin says Power Generation at Fault On Visayas Power Woes.

Iloilo City - MORE Power President and CEO Mr. Roel Castro is finally seeing some positive development amidst the power crisis affecting the country. With the recent pronouncement by the Bureau of Internal Revenue removing the VAT on systems loss, Castro welcomes this move even if it is just a portion of a percentage comprising the entire monthly bills of consumers. "This is a welcome move by the government especially by the Bureau of Internal Revenue by removing the VAT on system loss. We have to understand, this is a certain percentage of a certain percentage. We have to be thankful that goverment acted on this quickly so consumers can realize the reduction as soon as possible,” says Castro. But the systems loss is just a small chunk of the problem by the power industry. The daily monitoring of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines shows a decline in power supply from the power generators. Continuous lack of power supply would still result to higher power generation cost. Castro remained hopeful that power generators would become operational soon and would eventually lessen the burden, especially in the Visayas. "We are really optimistic na dapat babalik siya. As per DOE, may babalik ng September. May different dates na nandoon per official. Hopefully the soonest possible time yung baseloads mabalik man lang," says Castro. oes. For several weeks now, MORE Power, Negros Power and Bohol Light have been bombarded by complaints across all sectors for implementing the MLD. The manual load dropping is mandated by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to prevent the grid from collapsing due to the lack of supply from the generators. Despite the widespread information dissemination, Castro admits that it is the distribution utilities like MORE Power and Negros Power that get the brunt of the complaints.

However, DOE Secretary Sharon Garin mentioned that the distribution utilities are not at fault for the current situation. In an interview via DZMM, Garin explained that both the generation and transmission sectors have issues that need to be addressed—not only in relation to the current power situation, but also problems that have existed and should've been addressed for the past 10 years. "No, they receive what they can receive. They try naman. Iba naghahanap ng paraan. Distribution is the least guilty in this place," says Garin. Castro is hopeful that the inquiry will achieve both viable short-term and long-term solutions for Visayas. Base on the latest collective data released by the DOE and NGCP, Therma Visayas Units 1 and 2 will go back online this September while PEDC by end of October including other base load generation plants in Mindanao. These plants are expected to help stabilize the supply of electricity on the Visayas grid.

PHINMA University of Iloilo Brings CHED-Approved Tech and Hospitality Programs to Roxas City

PHINMA University of Iloilo (UI) is officially expanding its footprint to Capiz, bringing its signature brand of accessible, career-focused education to Roxas City. The expansion comes after securing official approval from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on July 6 to open local campus operations. For its initial rollout this coming school year, PHINMA UI Roxas will focus on two high-demand sectors, offering Bachelor’s degrees in Tourism Management and Information Systems. This move aims to eliminate the need for young Capizenos to leave their hometowns in pursuit of top-tier tertiary education. By establishing a physical presence in Roxas, PHINMA UI is making it easier for local students to balance their academic aspirations with the comfort and support of staying close to their families. PHINMA UI extends its sincere gratitude to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and CHED Regional Office VI, under the leadership of Dr. Raul Muyong, for the timely issuance of the permits that made the Roxas campus expansion possible. The University values CHED's continued support in expanding access to quality higher education for more Filipino learners. "Our expansion into Roxas City is driven by a singular mission: to make quality, employability-focused education within arm's reach of every striving student," said Martin Perez, Chief Operating Officer of PHINMA University of Iloilo. "We are bringing the same standard of academic excellence and industry-aligned training that PHINMA UI is known for—backed by proven outcomes, including a 92% average first-time board exam passing rate across the PHINMA Education network and a 77% graduate employment rate." To welcome its pioneer batch, PHINMA UI Roxas is making a major investment in the local community. Every single student who enrolls for the upcoming school year will automatically grant an 80% Hawak Kamay (HK) Scholarship on tuition for their entire first year. Beyond affordability, students will benefit from PHINMA Education's holistic learning approach, which combines academic excellence, hands-on learning, student support, and strong industry partnerships. These initiatives help prepare graduates not only to succeed in licensure examinations but also to build meaningful careers after graduation. The campus is now accepting applications for its pioneer batch. Start of Admissions: July 7, 2026 Official Start of Classes: July 27, 2026 Enrollment for Academic Year 2026–2027 is open to senior high school graduates, transferees, and working students. For inquiries regarding admissions requirements and campus information, visit the PHINMA University of Iloilo Roxas Campus Facebook page or visit the admissions office at Roxas Avenue Extension, Lawa-an, Roxas City.

MORE Power hopes Visayas grid supply normalizes soon

ILOILO CITY – The continuing thin power supply in the Visayas has affected electricity rates across distribution utilities in the region, prompting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to place the grid under several yellow alerts since May. In Iloilo City, MORE Electric and Power Corporation said it is hoping that power supply in the Visayas Grid will return to normal as soon as possible so that electricity rates may also go down. A yellow alert means available supply is not enough to meet demand, which may lead distribution utilities to implement manual load dropping or rotational power interruptions. Based on the latest data, MORE Power recorded around 428,308.60 kWh in power losses from May 13 to June, affecting 177,727 consumers. NGCP said the tight supply situation in the Visayas was caused by the outage of three major coal-fired power plants: Units 1 and 2 of Aboitiz Power Therma Visayas Inc., which have a capacity of 169 MW each, and Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) Unit 3, which has a capacity of 150 MW. In total, about 488 MW remains unavailable from these plants. As of June 23, NGCP data showed that 16 power plants were on forced outage, while 14 others were operating only at derated capacity. Altogether, 1,073 MW of power was unavailable. Aside from generation issues, transmission constraints have also limited the amount of power reaching the Visayas grid despite supply coming from Luzon. NGCP said the Leyte-Cebu interconnection has limited capacity to support the Cebu-Negros-Panay grid. "Nagapangabay kita nga tani earlier ang ila pagbalik sa grid para at least ma-stabilize man ang presyo sang kuryente diri sa aton sa Visayas Grid. Isa ini sa nakita naton nga big development kun tani para sa kaayuhan sang mga distribution utility kag mismo para sa mga konsumidor ilabi na nga ginapaabot ang El Niño ukon tuman kainit sang panahon nga mangin rason sa posible liwat nga pagtaas sang konsumo sang kuryente", says Raphael Dorilag, Manager of Energy Sourcing Department of MORE Power. The tight supply has also pushed prices higher in the electricity spot market or WESM. From ₱4.45 per kWh, prices climbed to ₱10.30 per kWh, while the generation rate rose by ₱2.10 per kWh to the current ₱7.735 per kWh. MORE Power said it continues to look for cheaper power sources for its consumers by buying supply from bilateral suppliers whenever these are more affordable than WESM prices. At present, 62% of its power supply is sourced through bilateral contracts, while 38% is purchased from WESM. MORE Power also set aside paying in staggered tranches to its suppliers to avoid bill shock for its consumers in the succeeding months. Wala sang pagbag-o sa presyo sang aton mga distribution charge sa MORE Power. Ginapabalo man naton nga inclusive na sang tax ang tanan naton nga rates rason nga transparent kita kag wala sang hidden charges sa mga bill nga galab-ot sa tagsa ka mga konsumidor”, says Dorilag. MORE Power likewise advised consumers to be more careful and responsible in their electricity use amid continuing challenges in power generation and transmission.

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.

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.

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.

LG UNVEILS THE POWER OF SMART APP WITH THE LAUNCH OF LG LAUNDRY LOUNGE

 

L-R: Mr. Dominic Mag-isa, LG PH Product Manager for Commercial Laundry; Ms. Marylouie Gatuz, Product Marketing Manager for Commercial Laundry; Mr. Jun Lee, LG PH Product Director for Commercial Laundry;

Ms. Myrtle Sarrosa, LG Ambassador; Mr. Arles A. Uy, Jr, CEO and President of Express Clean Consultancy/AAU Corporation; Mr. Philip David Lee, BigWash Director; Ms. Mylene Manzano, President, BigWash 

One of the least talked about parts of traveling is the issue of laundry. Sure, you can post your OOTDs, but eventually you’ll run out of clean clothing. In these cases, it’s important to quickly and efficiently find a trustworthy laundry shop to take care of your washing needs. However, this can be hard if you’re in an unfamiliar area as a tourist.

Seeing the need to locate laundry shops in an instant, LG recently launched the Laundry Launch App together with the opening of its second Laundry Lounge branch in the country. Located in La Paz, Iloilo, the new Laundry Lounge seamlessly integrates the app into its operations, offering quick location services, machine reservations, and cashless payments courtesy of Gcash. 

Popular content creator and LG brand ambassador Myrtle Sarrosa, who hails from Iloilo, showed how fast and efficient the LG Laundry Lounge app is. She demonstrated how with the app, it’s easy to find laundry shops nearby, check if machines are available, monitor and time wash cycles, and pay remotely via Gcash. The app can be downloaded via Google Play and App Store and services more than 600 Laundry Lounge shops nationwide.

Ms. Myrtle Sarrosa, LG Ambassador

Mr. Jun Lee, LG PH Product Director for Commercial Laundry, was present during the launch. “The LG Laundry Lounge App is a gamechanger for both consumers and business owners because it streamlines and simplifies the whole laundry experience.” The Laundry Lounge in Iloilo serves as the model for things to come.

Mr. Jun Lee, LG PH Product Director for Commercial Laundry

Mr. Arles A. Uy Jr, CEO and President of Express Clean Consultancy/AAU Corporation, the proprietor of the new Laundry Lounge, shared “Laundry shops are fast becoming one of the most popular start-up businesses. If you’re going to invest, it’s crucial that you have a partner you can trust… The technology is world-class, aftersales is topnotch, and the user experience is seamless.” The Laundry Lounge in Iloilo boasts 3 sets of Onyx Titan C Max and 6 sets of Onyx Giant C Max Commercial Washers and dryers that he is extremely confident in investment and performance. The Laundry Lounge app is also a big help o​n the business, that helps him monitor the shop’s operations, navigate through the machines’ conditions and check on his revenues.

Mr. Arles A. Uy Jr, CEO and President of Express Clean Consultancy/AAU Corporation

 

Find out more why business owners and entrepreneurs put their trust in LG Commercial Laundry by visiting www.lg.com/ph. Want to open your own business? Send a message to LG Commercial Laundry PH on Facebook or fill up the form at https://b2bmkt.lge.com/LP=7678  to get started.

 

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About LG Commercial Laundry

LG has a wide range of commercial laundry systems to meet your needs. Combining stylish design, sophisticated energy efficient technology and heavy capacity for even the most demanding of commercial laundry needs. LG's commercial laundry systems include washing machines and washers that will make your life a little easier. It's all possible with LG.