By Mariela Angella Oladive
Iloilo City’s rising status as a prosperous city, recently ranked fourth outside Metro Manila for Gross Domestic Product per capita, mirrors its economic boom.
Amidst the flurry of development projects, MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), Iloilo’s primary electricity distributor, asserts its role as a steadfast ally for the city’s ongoing economic ascent.
Speaking at the Business and Investment Symposium in Hua Siong College of Iloilo on March 21, MORE Power’s AVP and legal officer, Atty. Alana Babayen-on, cited the city’s burgeoning status as a gastronomy hub with competitive costs, attracting investor attention.
“We are prepared for any level of investment and demand,” Babayen-on assured, noting their proactive approach with the DOE and ERC to anticipate the city’s needs.
“We want to convey that no matter the investments, no matter the megawatts, we can provide it. We are taking this step not just as a distribution utility but actually going to the level of DOE, ERC, telling them this is the projected demand of the city,” she added.
From 2020 to 2022, the company’s impact included a P4.99 billion boost to the Gross City Domestic Product and the creation of over 6,693 jobs.
Babayen-on spotlighted MORE Power’s initiatives such as the IKonek program, which eases the process of acquiring legal electricity connections, among other customer-centric services.
MORE Power’s commitment transcends energy distribution, as shown by their investments in GIS technology, a new control center, and projects to enhance Iloilo City’s aesthetics, such as an underground distribution system.
Babayen-on also underscored the pivotal role of reliable electricity in economic prosperity and the negative impact of the region’s previous power outages.
“… if power is consistent we would see growth. If power is unreliable it would really cost the city and province billions of pesos.”
As Iloilo City evolves into a key investment destination, MORE Power pledges consistent energy support.
The company also aims to extend its services to Iloilo’s second and fourth districts, including Passi City, reinforcing its promise of reliability, affordability, and sustainability in aiding the city’s economic journey.
