ILOILO – What has President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. decided on the Congress-approved franchise expansion bill of MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power)? Consumers and officials in this province are anxious but hoping for the best.
“It’s good for our frozen food business that uses electricity,” said entrepreneur Sherwin Gumban of Barangay Purok 4, Pavia town.
House Bill (HB) 10306 extends the franchise area of MORE Power – which offers affordable electricity – from Iloilo City to the 2nd and 4th districts of Iloilo province. Pavia is part of the 2nd District.
Has the President signed it? Has he vetoed it? Has he let it lapse into law without signing it?
“Mas maayo gid kon makasulod ang MORE Power kay ang iya rate manubo. Halos 50 percent ang mabuhin sa amon electric bill,” said the optimistic Gumban who operates his frozen food business at the Pavia public market.
HB 10306 was transmitted by Congress to the Office of the President on June 29, 2022 after it was approved by the Senate in late May.
What made consumers like Gumban anxious was President Marcos’ decision last week to veto a measure seeking to expand the franchise area of the Davao Light and Power Company, Inc. in Mindanao citing, among others, that it ran counter to the provisions of Section 27 of Republic Act No. 9136, or the EPIRA (Electric Power Industry Reform Act) mandating that ‘all existing franchises shall be allowed to their full term.’”
Will HB 10306 suffer the same fate?
“Ginapangayo namon sa Presidente nga tani mapirmahan ya dayun ang House Bill kay damo gid ang makabenepisyo sini. Indi lang mga negosyante sang small and medium enterprises, pati normal nga mga pumoluyo makabenepisyo gid kay tanan nagagamit sang electricity,” said Gumban.
The 2nd and 4th districts’ power needs are currently being supplied by Iloilo Electric Cooperative 1 (ILECO 1). It must be stressed, however, that HB 10306 is not a MORE Power takeover of ILECO 1’s franchise. It simply allows MORE Power to operate in the 2nd and 4th districts and give ILECO 1 competition.
According to Gumban, his monthly electricity bill is around P50,000 and he looks forward to having it reduced.
A coauthor of HB 10306, Cong. Michael Gorriceta of the 2nd District – the other is then 4th District congressman Braeden John Biron (now mayor of Dumangas, Iloilo) – remains hopeful.
“Let’s wait and see and respect the decision of the President,” Gorriceta told Panay News.
The final decision rests with the President, he said. “Beyond our control na.”
“Kon mas nubo ang MORE POWER rate, why not indi naton sila pagtagaan chance. Kon daku ang difference sa suktanay, much better nga dira kita sa barato,” said businesswoman Imy Elgario of Barangay Purok 2, Pavia.
She is willing to transfer to MORE Power from ILECO-1, she stressed, so that her monthly electric bill would drop.
“Importante ang service nila okay. Mas favorable kon nubo ang price,” said Elgario.
The 2nd District is made up of the towns of San Miguel, Alimodian, Leon, Pavia, Santa Barbara, New Lucena, Zarraga, and Leganes.
The 4th District, on the other hand, is composed of the towns of Dumangas, Anilao, Banate, Dingle, Dueñas, and San Enrique, and the component city of Passi.
Congressman Gorriceta said he would respect the President’s decision on HB 10306, whatever it may be.
Biron, on the other hand, could not be reached for comment as of this writing.
For her part, Mayor Rosario Mediatrix “Trixie” Fernandez of San Enrique, Iloilo said there is no reason to veto the bill.
“Kay ti kaayuhan ini sang mga pomuluyo sang probinsya sang Iloilo,” said Fernandez, also the president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Iloilo chapter.
Competition between two power distributors, she said, would improve their service.
“Ultimately, this will have a trickle-down effect to the prices of commodities, of services,” added Fernandez.
Remy Jalbuna of Barangay Tigum, Pavia, and tricycle driver, looks forward to slashing their monthly electricity bill.
“Tani pirmahan ya (President) para mabarato ang bill namon,” Jalbuna told Panay News.
Mindeluz Gorriceta of Barangay Balabag, Pavia agreed. “Daw nami ang MORE Power kay gamay baraydan.”
Vice Mayor Ronaldo Golez of Dumangas is just as hopeful.
“Bahar-bahar gid man ang ila presyo and want to avail that also,” said Golez. “Nagalaum kami makasulod ang MORE Power.”
Passi City’s Mayor Stephen Palmares is similarly optimistic.
“Kon ano ang makatao sang benepisyo sa mga pumoluyo, dayan kita,” he said.
For his part, Santa Barbara Sanggunian Bayan member Ramon Sullano said it all boils down to better power distribution service, which could be achieved if there is competition./PN
