A bill allowing More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) to expand its franchise area beyond Iloilo City has passed the committee level in the House of Representatives.

The approval of the proposed measure by the House Committee on Legislative Franchises was confirmed by Iloilo Second District Representative Michael Gorriceta on Tuesday, Sept. 28.

Gorriceta and Fourth District Representative Braedon John Biron filed House Bill 10271 on Wednesday last week, Sept.22, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 11212 (MORE’s franchise).

The bill authorizes MORE Power, which is owned by gambling and ports magnate Enrique Razon Jr., “to expand and enable it to establish, operate, and maintain, for commercial purposes and in the public interest, a distribution system for the conveyance of electric power to end users” in 15 towns and one component city of Iloilo province.

These towns are Alimodian, Leganes, Leon, New Lucena, Pavia, San Miguel, Santa Barbara and Zarraga in the Second District, and Anilao, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Dingle, Duenas, Dumangas, and San Enrique and Passi City in the Fourth District.

Gorriceta said the general managers of Iloilo Electric Cooperatives (ILECOs) I and II Engineers Miguel Paguntalan and Jose Redmond Roquios as well as MORE Power president Roel Castro were given the chance to air their sides before they filed crafted the bill.

The solon shared that the general managers pointed out, among others, that they are still bounded by their existing contracts.

Castro, on the other hand, said they are just responding to the public’s clamor for lower rates, better service, and lesser power interruption.

He said MORE Power is willing to collaborate with ILECOs I and II to provide efficient electricity power distribution system in their coverage areas.

With legal, technical and financial qualifications, Castro believes MORE Power is ready to expand.

Gorriceta, meanwhile, said the Department of Energy (DOE) recommended the creation of a consultation panel composed of DOE, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the electric cooperatives to discuss the potential impacts once MORE Power enters their area of jurisdiction.

He is expecting the House of Representatives to decide whether MORE Power should be allowed to serve new areas before the year ends.IMT