The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure expanding the franchise area of More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), sending the bill to the Senate for further deliberation and moving a step closer to widening electricity distribution coverage in Iloilo province.
Lawmakers overwhelmingly backed House Bill 7647, which seeks to extend the company’s power distribution services beyond Iloilo City to nearby towns, a move supporters say could bring faster, more reliable electricity and help spur economic growth across the province.
The bill, authored by Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin, secured strong support in plenary voting, with 247 lawmakers voting in favor, four opposing, and no abstentions. Following its approval on third and final reading, the measure now proceeds to the Senate.
If enacted into law, the measure will allow MORE Power to expand its distribution network to the municipalities of Igbaras, Tubungan, Oton, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miag-ao, and San Joaquin.
House Committee on Legislative Franchises chair Jeffrey Ferrer endorsed the bill to the plenary after the panel issued a favorable recommendation. The proposal amends several provisions of the existing franchise granted to MORE Power under Republic Act 11212, which authorized the company to operate and maintain an electric distribution system primarily in Iloilo City.
Garin said the proposed expansion responds to requests from local governments in the province’s first district seeking improved electricity services for their constituents.
“The respective towns in the First District of Iloilo Province have passed resolutions requesting assistance in passing a measure that would allow them to be covered by MORE Power’s franchise area,” she said. “This would enable residents to benefit from the fast, reliable, and modern electric power distribution services that MORE Power has been known to deliver.”
MORE Power began operations in Iloilo City in 2020 after replacing the long-time distribution utility following the expiration of its franchise. The transition marked a major shift in the city’s electricity distribution system.
Since then, the company has invested heavily in infrastructure upgrades and modernization, including the replacement of aging distribution lines and improvements to substations and monitoring systems. Supporters say these investments helped reduce system losses and improve outage response times.
Advocates of the bill believe expanding the service area could accelerate economic activity in southwestern Iloilo, where several municipalities are seeking more stable and modern power distribution to support growth and development.
