THE NATIVES of “I Am Iloilo City” breathed a collective sigh of relief when MORE Electric and Power Corporation announced at 12:11 p.m. on Jan. 5 that all six of its substations were operational again. This included the restoration of all residential feeders under MORE Power.
The electricity supply on Panay Island, including Guimaras, has been fully restored after several days of rotational brownouts caused by a power blackout, at least for now.
Then came the Senate and congressional hearings to get to the bottom of the blackout which not only disrupted the lives of the Ilonggos and spoiled the start of the New Year but also incurred P1.5-billion losses businesswise, according to estimates by the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office.
All fingers and de facto evidence point to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) as remiss/incompetent of their duty to mitigate if not prevent this blackout. But of course, we will wait for the final conclusion from the investigations if that is indeed the case and expect sanctions to be meted out to the guilty party.
The Senate Committee on Energy started with a public hearing on Jan. 10 with the following agenda:
* SRN46 – Operations of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines
* SRN 47 – Plans of the Department of Energy to Provide Long Term Solutions to Power Supply Shortages
* SRN 49 – National Strategy of DOE to Ensure the Country’s Energy Security and Self-Sufficiency
* SRN 556 – Continuous Supply of Electricity
* SRN 579 – Panay Island Electric Power Situation
* SRN 607 – Successive Electric Transmission Disturbance
The prevailing mode is the revocation of NGCP’s franchise and imposing hefty fines for their fiasco.
Meanwhile, Iloilo governor Arthur Defensor Jr. is mulling a class suit against NGCP. I’m not surprised if Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas will follow suit although the citizens of “I Am Iloilo City” would rather discard this unpleasant experience to the dustbin of forgotten memories.
In the midst of that darkness, there was one bright spot – the men and women of MORE Power who manned the barricades giving regular hourly updates on the power situation and rotating brownouts.
I won’t mention names, but it was a joy and reassuring to know that MORE Power’s personnel were able to keep the Ilonggos out of the dark in the midst of the blackout.
And we segue to: MORE Power Strengthens Iloilo Community Through Collaborative CSR Initiatives.
For four years, MORE Power has remained steadfast in its commitment to the Ilonggo community. Beyond its role as the city’s sole power distributor, the company has continued its efforts to help uplift the lives of the Ilonggos.
Recently, MORE Power extended support to various charitable institutions in Iloilo City through its Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.
The charitable institutions included Asilo de Molo, Friends of Cancer Kids Iloilo Foundation, Inc., Philippine Red Cross, Homeless People’s Federation Philippines, Inc., St. Clement’s Parish Church, the Carmelite Monastery, Colegio De San Jose, Assumption Iloilo, Ati Orphanage and Children Center, Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center, and St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary, Inc.
This year’s effort was particularly remarkable with the involvement of the company’s Key Accounts. Through their active participation/support in the company’s Christmas caroling, they contributed funds increasing the activity’s budget.
This collaborative engagement elevated the CSR initiative, amplifying the company’s core values and its dedication to serving the community.
MORE Power’s initiative marked a significant shift by not just championing a charitable cause but also fostering ongoing support for these institutions.
Apart from the funds that MORE Power allocated to each beneficiary, additional funds were collected from these key accounts.
In embracing responsibility towards Iloilo’s well-being, MORE Power remains deeply honored to join hands with the community in creating meaningful change. The journey alongside these esteemed charitable institutions signifies not just corporate support but a shared commitment to nurturing hope and resilience within our beloved city.
Indeed, a corporate citizen embracing and fulfilling its corporate social responsibility to the hilt, well played./PN
