A thanksgiving mass was organized by MORE Power Iloilo last Friday, September 18, 2020, in their recently renovated customer service office located at General Luna Street, Iloilo City.
The said mass was held to celebrate the Supreme Court’s ruling concerning the declaration of Section 10 and 17 of Republic Act No. 11212, or MORE Power’s legislative franchise as constitutional.
The majority ruled with an 8-6 vote, wherein the petition of MORE Power was favored by the Supreme Court. This decision reversed the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court’s 2019 ruling which declared Sections 10 and 17 of Republic Act 11212 as unconstitutional.
Section 10 and Section 17 of the aforementioned law states that MORE Power has the power of eminent domain, and the power to expropriate or acquire the private assets of PECO including poles, wires, cables, transformers, switching equipment, stations and buildings, machinery, and equipment which it uses in its operations.
“We applaud the Supreme Court for making this decision and by standing alongside the advocacy of the people to finally oust a monopoly that has trampled on the rights of the Ilonggos for so long,” quoted Mr. Roel Castro, More Power president.
He further cited that More Power will continue to work on the improvement of the distribution system and that they will carry forward the tradition of noble public service, which they strongly believed that every Ilonggo has the right to demand for.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas was also invited by MORE Electric and Power Corporation during the said thanksgiving mass.
“We believe that the company shall help improve and modernize the distribution system in our city.”, he implied.
While MORE Power’s office located along General Luna Street is still not open to the public, their valued customers can place their transactions at the said company’s temporary office at Hotel del Rio for the meantime.