ILOILO City – Private distribution utility companies can greatly improve power service, more so if they bring in sufficient capital to invest in better facilities and technologies.
Sen. Grace Poe stressed this during a joint hearing of the Senate’s Committee on Energy and Committee on Public Services.
She cited as example Iloilo City, the franchise area of MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power).
“Doon sa Iloilo (City), nang ma-approve ang (franchise ng) MORE Power, mas naging maayos ang serbisyo,” said Poe, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services.
The joint committee hearing on July 12 tackled recurring brownouts in various parts of the country and the poor service provided by electric cooperatives.
“Kung mas malaki ang capitalization ng private sector at meron silang responsibilidad sa kanilang mga shareholders, mas maayos ang serbisyo nila,” said Poe.
MORE Power is the sole power distributor in Iloilo City. Now on its third year of service here and over halfway into its five-year development plan, it has invested over a billion pesos now to deliver on its commitment to bring about welcome changes in the electric service in terms of efficiency, sufficiency and reliability.
Mayor Jerry Treñas has expressed satisfaction.
“Very happy and satisfied customer gid ako (of MORE Power),” he said recently.
With MORE Power, Iloilo City now has a stable power supply, reliable electricity distribution and lower rates, stressed Treñas.
President and Chief Executive Officer Roel Z. Castro said that since MORE Power took over, the company has already poured in around P1.5 billion worth of investments to upgrade its power distribution facilities.
It replaced old and dilapidated facilities, especially the substations, and acquired new ones.
“MORE delivers good service to Iloilo City and they work very closely with us, very consumer-friendly,” said Treñas.
The city’s chief executive also said MORE Power has an excellent Corporate Social Responsibility./PN
