By Francis Allan L. Angelo
A prominent Church leader here declared that MORE Power, the new power distributor in Iloilo City which has been operating for barely four months, is far better than the previous distributor.
Msgr. Meliton Oso, head of the Jaro Archdiocese Social Action Center, made the declaration amid the alleged opposition of a group called Koalisyon Bantay Kuryente (KBK) against MORE Power, which the prelate described as “too early”.
In its various press statements, KBK had assailed the brownouts that hit Iloilo City recently: “Iloilo is dying and needs the help of President Duterte and the Supreme Court. The lights are out in Iloilo because of MORE Power. Their long and frequent brownouts are killing our businesses and livelihoods, and they are disrupting our essential medical services.”
In its report to the City Council on June 30, 2020, MORE Power explained that the major cause of the brownouts can be traced to the dilapidated equipment of the former power distributer, plus the “unusual occurrences” which were traced by its technical team as “man-made” faults or sabotage.
AMULET
Monsignor Oso said that what separates MORE from its predecessor is its “openness” to engage the public as well as its transparency in all its activities.
“For me, from the standpoint of being a consumer myself, I can see very well that MORE Power’s amulet or charm is its being open to engage the public, and in informing and educating its consumers of what is going on. I am really happy, and I believe it’s a better future we are looking forward to in terms of distribution services under MORE Power,” he said.
“But I ask everyone to bear with the situation and practice a little more patience considering that MORE Power has been here for only four months and it’s not God that can do magic like instantly solving the woes we have been experiencing for decades under PECO,” he underscored.
“You know things like brownouts are quite understandable. Well, what can you expect from a dilapidated system that MORE Power inherited from PECO… the excessive billing, dilapidated facilities such as sagging power lines, spaghetti wires and rotten poles, electric jumpers all over, old and decrepit transformers, and unmaintained substations,” he asked.
“We have given PECO 96 years and it failed to provide us the services that we deserve, I believe it’s fair enough if we keep a little patience and allow MORE Power to prove its worth. Besides, all it has been asking for is to give it a little more time specifically around 3 years, or 5 years the most, and everything will be better for us all,” he stressed.
Monsignor Oso, listed the following attributes of MORE Power, which, he said, Ilonggo consumers should be grateful about: MORE Power, with its iKONEK Program in partnership with the city government, made the processes easier for people to secure their own regular account with the power company; the transparency of all its actions and activities; very fast response team; very prompt attention to calls relative to queries, grievances, and complaints; the regular conduct of dialogue with practically all the sectors in the city; and the openness of its officials in personally attending to situations relative to its services.
Oso personally cited MORE Power president Roel Castro, whom, he said, is basically leading his team in providing a “new and better perspective” among Ilonggos of what public utility service is all about.
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Monsignor Oso also shared the view previously aired by the Iloilo Chapter of the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (IIEE).
Earlier, Engr. Allan Biton, IIEE Iloilo chapter president, said that MORE Power is competent enough and treading in the right direction.
Biton stressed this during the conduct of the fact-finding investigation by the City Council following the brownouts and trip offs which were later found out to be the handiwork of electric saboteurs.
MEASURE VS SABOTEURS
Earlier, Iloilo City Councilor Romel Duron, chair of the SP Committee on Public Utilities, said the council is poised to pass a local measure that will specifically target pilferers that would help MORE Power in ensuring a continuous and uninterrupted transmission and power distribution.
“We know for a fact that power interruptions and overloads caused by pilferers and saboteurs is not only a sabotage against the power distributor but is a direct affront against the legitimate consumers who are actually the one paying for the stolen electricity,” in an earlier interview pointed out.
“We have to protect the power consumers and we must put an end to our people’s suffering which is why an Ordinance to this effect is a must,” he adds.
Duron said the measure will boost the implementation of the Anti-Pilferage Law and the newly-approved Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act (Republic Act 11361) which intend to curb the sabotage, illegal use of electricity, and theft of electric power transmission lines and materials
