ILOILO CITY — More than 200 kilograms of fresh vegetables were harvested during the Harvest Festival in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City, marking another successful collaboration between local farmers and private partners.

The activity was headed by the Iloilo City Agriculturist Office and Tacas San Isidro Farmers Association under the program of Mayor Raisa Treñas, in partnership with Iloilo City's sole electricity distributor MORE Power.

A total of 204.9 kilograms of assorted vegetables were gathered during the event, including string beans, radish, okra, corn, squash, watermelon, bananas, melon, tomatoes, and other crops.

Employees of MORE Power participated alongside members of the farmers’ association in harvesting the crops. The vegetables were then immediately transported to the company’s office, where they were sold to employees—demonstrating a direct farm-to-market approach.

In addition to the harvest, members of the Tacas San Isidro Farmers Association received 160 packs of seeds and 10 sacks of fertilizer from MORE Power, which will be used for their next planting cycle.

Harvest Festival is considered a community development initiative, as proceeds from the sale of the harvested vegetables are reinvested as capital for the next planting season, ensuring the sustainability of the project and continued support for local farmers.

“It has been the practice of MORE to assist our urban vegetable farmers by providing seed inputs. They have further elevated this support by helping organize the first-ever Iloilo City Farmers Congress. The latest activity was the Harvest Festival, where MORE employees actively participated in harvesting, purchasing, and helping sell the products—demonstrating a holistic approach from production to marketing. Thank you, Sir Roel. This yearly activity is even more significant now due to the rising fuel costs. MORE power to our urban farmers! ” said Inigo Garingalao, department head of the Iloilo City Agriculturist Office.

The initiative highlights MORE Power’s commitment not only to providing reliable electricity but also to foster community development and creating opportunities for local farmers across Iloilo City.

History has been made in the Philippine automotive landscape as MG Iloilo officially secures a historic back-to-back victory, defending its title as the 2025 Dealer of the Year. This prestigious recognition cements MG Iloilo’s position as a benchmark of excellence within the Morris Garages (MG) network. 

The "Grand Slam" victory is not just a win for Iloilo, but a testament to the "clean sweep" of excellence achieved by the Grand Canyon Multi-Brand Automotive Group. Across the archipelago, Grand Canyon-managed dealerships dominated the 2025 awards, showcasing unparalleled performance in sales, aftersales, and digital innovation. 

A Sweep of Excellence 

The 2025 Awards reflect a commitment to quality that spans the entire Grand Canyon network: 

• MG Iloilo: Beyond the top honor of Dealer of the Year, the branch also secured Best in Aftersales, Best in Units Received KPI (VisMin), and 1st Runner Up for Excellence in Sales Operations (Visayas). 

• MG Libis: Emerged as the MG Leads Champion (Metro Manila), alongside 1st Runner Up for Best in Sales Operations (NCR)and Best in CRM Lite Utilization (NCR). 

• MG Davao Matina: Recognized as 1st Runner Up for Excellence in Sales Operations (Mindanao) and Best in Parts Wholesale (VisMin). 

• MG General Santos: Took home 2nd Runner Up for Excellence in Sales Operations and Best in CRM Lite Utilization (VisMin). 

• MG Greenhills: Honored as the 2025 Digital Driver (Metro Manila) for its forward-thinking digital integration. 

• MG Bacolod: Celebrated individual excellence with Jenerose Molina being named the 2025 Top Customer Relations Officer. 

A 30-Year Legacy of Trust 

This year’s victory holds special significance as the Grand Canyon Multi-Brand Automotive Group celebrates its 30th Anniversary. For three decades, Grand Canyon has been a driving force in the Philippine motor industry, evolving from a local dealership into a national powerhouse. 

"Our back-to-back win as Dealer of the Year is a tribute to our past 30 years of service and a promise for the future," said Mr. Jan Andrew Po, President of Grand Canyon. "We aren’t just selling cars; we are upholding a legacy of trust, reliability, and passion that has been our engine since day one." 

As MG Iloilo celebrates this milestone, the group remains steadfast in its mission to provide world-class automotive experiences and innovative mobility solutions for every MG owner in the Philippines. 

MG Iloilo continues to demonstrate its commitment to helping customers navigate today’s fuel challenges by championing innovation and smarter mobility solutions. Through its growing lineup of electric and hybrid vehicles, MG Iloilo is making eco-friendly, fuel-efficient options more accessible to Ilonggo drivers. By promoting advanced technology, sustainable motoring, and practical alternatives to traditional fuel-powered cars, the dealership reinforces its mission to support the community with forward-thinking solutions that make every journey more efficient, economical, and future-ready. Visit the MG Iloilo showroom at Taft North Mandurriao or Tabuc Scuba to get your free test drive and special car financing promos.  

The MORE Power expansion bill, authored by Representative Janette Garin, was approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives of the Philippines during its session last Tuesday.

The measure seeks to include the municipalities of Iloilo’s 1st District in the franchise area of MORE Electric and Power Corporation.

The approval came after Jeffrey Ferrer, chair of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, presented the panel’s favorable recommendation to the plenary.

House Bill 7647 proposes amendments to Sections 11, 16, and 21 of Republic Act No. 11212, as previously amended by Republic Act No. 11918. The original law granted MORE Power a franchise to establish, operate, and maintain an electric power distribution system in Iloilo City and districts two and four, ensuring the continuous and reliable delivery of electricity to consumers within its service area.

During the plenary vote, the bill garnered overwhelming support, with 247 lawmakers voting in favor, four opposing, and no abstentions, paving the way for its transmission to the Senate of the Philippines for consideration. The Senate is expected to conduct its own series of committee hearings for the proposed measure.

If enacted, the bill would allow MORE Power to expand its distribution services to the municipalities of Igbaras, Tubungan, Oton, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miag-ao, and San Joaquin.

While the said municipalities are presently served by Iloilo I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ILECO 1), Garin emphasized that the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines clearly states that franchises for public utilities should not be exclusive, and the Supreme Court has affirmed this.

Garin also pointed out that these local government units in the district have already passed resolutions urging Congress to expand MORE Power’s franchise coverage so their constituents can benefit from what they described as faster, more reliable, and responsive electricity services.

“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,” Garin said. “This would enable their residents to benefit from the fast, reliable, and modern electric power distribution services that MORE Power has been known to deliver.”

Supporters see the proposed expansion as a potential step toward accelerating economic growth not only in Iloilo City but also in neighboring municipalities across the province.