More Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) said the temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court (RTC) and Panay Electric Co. (PECO) will hasten the resolution of the problems of power distribution in Iloilo.
The TRO issued by the Supreme Court on December 3 stops the Mandaluyong RTC and PECO from declaring MORE Power’s power of expropriation given by the Congress as unconstitutional.
“MORE Power has a clear and unmistakable right to be protected, there is material and substantial invasion of such right, there is an urgent need for the writ to prevent irreparable injury to MORE Power and no other ordinary, speedy and adequate remedy exists to prevent the infliction of irreparable injury other than the issuance of said TRO,” said Roel Castro, MORE Power president.
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) earlier compelled PECO’s board of directors and its officials to explain why they should not face administrative and criminal cases after the regulatory body’s technical investigators found evidence the company violated safety and technical standards in its operations.
The ERC said PECO failed to replace or conduct regular maintenance on its aging distribution assets in Iloilo City as shown by the rotting wooden electricity poles and the old electricity wires on its streets especially in the city’s residential areas.
It added violations to the Philippine Distribution Code 2017 Edition, Amended Distribution Services and Open Access Rules, Amended Elevated Metering Center Rules and ERC Resolution No. 12 issued in 2009 that laid down the guidelines for the accreditation of satellite laboratories of meter shops were observed.
