Barangay hall in Iloilo City loses power due to unpaid bills since 2023

Dark and stuffy. This is the situation of the Alalasan Barangay Hall in Lapuz District, Iloilo City. 

The situation started noontime on October 20, 2025 after power supply was cut off, including at its health center, day care center, and barangay tanod (village watchman) outpost due to unpaid electric bills. 

The bills reached a total of P686,000 incurred since 2023. 

Of the said amount, P528,000 covers penalties after the power provider found out about illegal tapping and that the barangay did not have its own power meter. 

The actual power bill reached over P157,000 when the barangay had its own power meter, but was not paid by the previous administration. 

The upcoming barangay fiesta has compounded the concerns of officials. 

“Kap. Sumpio, napag-usapan na natin ito before. Meron kang sinabi na sana magbabayad ka naman kaso hindi ka nanalo. Ngunit hindi yan ang dahilan dahil may annual budget ka naman. Sana binigyan mo ito ng atensyon,” said Barangay Alalasan Chairman Jofel Ladiet. 

The barangay paid MORE Power using a disbursement voucher worth P95,000 from the City Accounting Office for the P157,000 actual power bill.

“Ang penalties hindi magbabayad ang city. Ngunit hindi masasabing ang city ang magbabayad dahil kukunin yan sa budget namin ngayong administrasyon,” Ladiet added. 

However, according to MORE Power, while the barangay and the company have not come to a certain agreement, reconnection may take time.

“It will still matter kung ano ang magiging satisfactory, kasi kung hindi maka-settle ng certain arrangements then we will still, unfortunately, we will be forced to hold pa rin yung reconnection,” Engr. Joe-Mel Zaporteza, chief operating officer of MORE Electric and Power Corporation, said. 

A few residents believe that the former barangay chairwoman, Maricon Sumpio, should have settled the debt. 

“Ang previous pa yan, di ba?! Kasi ang bagong administrasyon sasaluhin na lang nila?” Julianita Andrada, a resident, opined. 

However, Zaporteza pointed out that MORE Power does not look at which administration the unpaid bills and penalties were incurred, but on which account the power connection was registered. 

“We are focused on the account. Ang sinasabi natin, may utang si account ngayon so nag-impose tayo ng disconnection para ma-enforce natin yung ating collection nung mga pagkaka-utang,” Zaporteza underscored. 

Ladiet said Sumpio must be held accountable for the inconvenience and trouble she left behind. 

“Babalikan namin siya kasi perwisyo talaga ang ginawa niya sa amin,” Ladiet stressed. 

GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas tried to get a statement from Sumpio but she refused to accommodate the news team. —GMA Regional TV