Dispute between two electric companies result in 13-hour power outages in Iloilo City, solon says

A lawmaker has called on warring electricity companies to settle their differences amid widespread power outages in Iloilo City.

Ako-Bisaya party-list Representative Sonny Lagon was referring to Panay Electric Company (PECO) and MORE Power and Electric Corporation which are in dispute over the latter’s takeover of  PECO’s assets.

MORE was granted franchise to distribute electricity in Iloilo City last February.

“Palagi po ang brownout sa Iloilo City dahil po sa nangyari sa PECO and MORE...nung nakaraan po, 13 hours. Kawawa po ang mga consumer, lalo na po nasa loob ng bahay ang buong pamilya dahil sa COVID-19,” Lagon said.

“Nagkakaroon po ng short circuit eh, tapos tinatransfer from one transformer to another. Before po nung MORE, wala pa namang nangyayaring ganito. Ang alam ko po, kulang pa sa facilities ang MORE, kaya sana po pagtulungan ni PECO at MORE ang sitwasyon para hindi maapektuhan ang mga consumers,” he added.

While he is not siding with any party, Lagon conceded that MORE has a lot of explaining to do for the power outage problems under its watch.

“Nagtake-over po sila eh, kaya't sana i-address nila ang problema. Simula po kasi noon, marami nang problemang nangyayari,” the lawmaker said.

“Wala po akong kinakampihan, pero since you took over, dapat hindi ito nangyayari na parating brownout. Parang…hilaw eh,” he added.

Lagon has filed House Resoluion 785 seeking inquiry on the widespread power outages in Iloilo City.

Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association party-list representative Presley de Jesus agreed with Lagon.

“A 13-hour brownout is not acceptable, especially since we are in a crisis,” he said.

“It seems that some big private investors want to take over the power industry which may adversely affect the small electric cooperatives in the country. We need to protect electric cooperatives from being taken over by private investors  who are only after profit,” De Jesus said.

Before this episode of power outages in the area, there were also reports of electricity service interruptions that tortured and enraged Iloilo City consumers in March and April.—AOL, GMA News