The Senate Committee on Public Services, chaired by Senator Raffy Tulfo, convened a hearing on March 18, 2026, to deliberate on two franchise measures involving subsidiaries of Primelectric Holdings Inc.
The hearing addressed the franchise extension request for Bohol Light Company Incorporated and the franchise expansion request for MORE Electric and Power Corporation. Presenting the companies’ performances was Mr. Roel Z. Castro, President and Chief Executive Officer of both utilities, who detailed operational improvements and the justifications behind the legislative requests.
Bohol Light: Post-Acquisition Gains
Primelectric Holdings entered Bohol Light in late 2024, acquiring a 70% stake from the Salcon Power Group. The provincial government of Bohol retains the remaining 30% ownership.
Since the takeover, Mr. Castro has reported several operational advancements, including expanding the customer base by over 1,000 households, particularly in low-load areas.
The company also streamlined payment processes by accepting payments at the barangay level in Tagbilaran City and reduced the documentary requirements for new applicants to just 4 items.
Mr. Castro noted that the company has retained 100% of its workforce while enhancing employee benefits to include health insurance and a fourteenth-month pay.
MORE Power: Expansion Amid Strong Performance Metrics
MORE Electric and Power Corporation, which has operated under a legislative franchise in Iloilo City for the past six years, is seeking to expand its coverage area.
The proposal includes the seven municipalities of the First District of Iloilo province, as sponsored by Congresswoman Janet Garin, due to public clamor, in addition to the Second and Fourth Districts, which are already included in the existing franchise of MORE Power.
Mr. Castro highlighted significant operational improvements since MORE Power assumed operations in Iloilo City.
The utility reduced system loss from approximately 28% to about 5%, grew its customer base from roughly 62,000 to 107,000, and reduced both the System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) and System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) by over 90%.
Castro also reported that MORE Electric, along with Negros Power and Bohol Light—all managed by Primelectric Holdings—currently hold the three lowest electricity rates in the Visayas region.
Government agencies provided a largely compliant assessment of both utilities’ operations:
· Department of Energy (DOE): Found reportorial and other requirements to be in order, but indicated it would submit additional provisions for regulatory layers.
· Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC): Confirmed compliance with performance, system reliability, system loss, and power quality standards.
· Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR): Verified regular tax filing and payment with no open cases.
· Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): Stated the company is compliant with reporting requirements and will submit an official position paper.
· Philippine Competition Commission (PCC): Raised no objections and submitted its position paper.
. Commission on Audit (COA): Maintained a neutral stance but emphasized the necessity of provisions ensuring full audit access, transparency, financial disclosure, and accountability.
· Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE): Had no objection, noting no labor inspection coverage and no records of pending labor standard cases.
Representatives of the Iloilo Electric Cooperatives did not raise any objections during the proceedings.
Following presentations and a review by various government agencies, both bills were referred to a technical working group (TWG) for further consideration.
The Committee will continue to review the proposed measures, incorporating agency recommendations and further refining provisions before the bills further advance in the Senate legislative process.
