The House Committee on Legislative Franchises has opened deliberations on House Bill No. 6292 filed by Iloilo First District Representative Janette L. Garin, seeking to include her district’s seven municipalities in the franchise expansion of MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power).
Presided over by Negros Occidental Representative Jeffrey Ferrer, the committee heard testimonies from Garin, local officials, and consumer groups from the First District, all of whom expressed strong support for the measure aimed at improving electricity services and reducing power costs.
In her statement, Garin urged the panel to approve the bill, arguing that allowing MORE Power to operate in her district would introduce healthy competition, lower electricity rates, and relieve residents from what she described as the high operational expenses of the incumbent Iloilo Electric Cooperative I (ILECO I).
She cited a recent Supreme Court ruling affirming the legality of competition in the utility sector, stating that this strengthens efforts to open options for consumers. “This proposal is not meant to displace ILECO I,” Garin stressed. “It is to give consumers a choice and to ensure fairness as the energy landscape in Iloilo continues to evolve.”
Garin also warned that residents of the First District could face steeper electricity rates if they remain solely dependent on ILECO I, especially once consumers in Iloilo’s Second and Fourth Districts—which are currently under ILECO I—begin transferring to MORE Power due to its lower rates and more efficient services.
“ILECO I covers the First, Second, and part of the Third District of Iloilo. If the southern towns remain closed to MORE Power, my constituents may end up subsidizing the approximately ₱40 million in monthly operational expenses of ILECO I,” Garin said during the hearing.
MORE Power, which has already secured a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the Energy Regulatory Commission, affirmed its readiness to expand once authorized by Congress. Many areas in the Second District currently served by ILECO I are expected to migrate to MORE Power due to its competitive rates and service reliability.
MORE Power President and CEO Roel Castro told lawmakers that the company is technically and financially prepared to enter the First District. He added that based on their simulations, establishing the necessary infrastructure will require at least ₱2 billion in capital investment.
The committee is expected to continue its deliberations in January 2026 as Congress evaluates the proposed franchise expansion.
