By Francis Allan L. Angelo
“Ilonggos deserve the best. Nothing more, nothing less!”
This was the commitment of MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Roel Z. Castro, saying they are simply here to complement the city’s economic boom.
“Hence, stable, reliable and inexpensive power supply is a must,” Castro said.
He added that even before MORE Power came in the city, the management is already aware of its economic status.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) feted the city as number one among the highly-urbanized cities in the country with the most improved local government unit during the annual Regional Competitiveness Summit held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on August 16, 2018.
“This award, of course, necessitates MORE Power to supplement the city’s newest battle cry: ‘Level Up, Iloilo City’ through dependable power supply,” Castro said.
“And that is the reason why MORE Power earmarked a substantial amount for our rehabilitation and expansion endeavors to be funded under our Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) Program. Not just P1 billion but P1.8 billion per se,” he added.
Why the big amount?
Castro stressed, “We need at least P1.8 billion to rehabilitate all the ‘bulok’ facilities of Panay Electric Company, Inc. (PECO).”
He referred to rotten poles, undersized transformers, undersized conductors, old and dilapidated substations, among others.
MORE Power started to rehabilitate and repair a number of feeders since Feb 29, 2020, a day after it took over as the city’s power distributor.
A MUST
Castro said replacement of “aging”, defective, and damaged meters is a must as it is required by Article 29 (Obligation to Allow Inspection, Installation and Removal of Electricity Apparatus) of the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers.
MORE Power has contracted four private firms to speed up the meter replacement job.
“And the meters we are using right now are those Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)-approved and calibrated ones. This kind (of meters) ensures reliability of power consumption thus helping reduce system loss. It has to be noted that MORE Power will be working hard to bring down the unusually high system loss of PECO brought about by sheer neglect,” he said.
Based on the latest technical findings, 119 transformers were found to have “abnormally” high temperature, an indication of overloading.
MORE Power and Miescor (sister company of Meralco) conducted technical scanning study on all the facilities and already identified the problematic areas that became the basis for the rehabilitation plans.
As to the so-called “ill-considered” purchases, Castro said “It’s all talk!”
If PECO knows what has to be done, why is it talking only now when it doesn’t have a franchise and Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) anymore. They should have done this 10 years ago,” he added.
‘BREAKTHROUGH’
Castro said MORE Power also partnered with the top banks, remittance and payment centers in the country for easy payment of Ilonggos’ electric bills.
These are Banco de Oro (BDO), Philippine National Bank (PNB), Robinson’s Bank, Land Bank of the Philippines, RD Pawnshop, Palawan Express, LBC and SM Super Malls.
“Because we care for the Ilonggos that is why we want them to pay their bills with MORE Power at their own convenience anywhere they want.”
Over 130 payment outlets in seven districts of the city are now ready to accept payments for MORE Power bills.
“Such is another ‘breakthrough’ in Iloilo City,” Castro said.
