BUILDING A PATH TO ENERGY CAREERS. Meralco and Banahaw Technological College, Inc. formalize a partnership under the utility’s Talent Farm Program to provide technical students with industry exposure, practicum training and mentorship. From left are Meralco First Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Hans R. Montenegro, BTCI President and Chief Executive Officer Engr. Tommy Joseph R. Abustan, and Meralco Senior Vice President and Head of Networks Engr. Froilan J. Savet.
Technical students in Lucban, Quezon will gain access to industry training, engineering mentors and potential careers in the energy sector through a new partnership between Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and Banahaw Technological College, Inc. (BTCI).
The collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of agreement signed on September 28, brings BTCI into Meralco’s Talent Farm Program, an initiative aimed at building a sustainable pipeline of skilled technical professionals.
For students, the partnership creates a bridge between classroom learning and workplace demands. It provides industry exposure, structured practicum experiences and mentorship aligned with the distribution utility’s technical workforce requirements.
“With this partnership, we aim to help the students of BTCI become immediately employable. Meralco is here to support students achieve their career goals and we hope that this is a successful pilot because we want to replicate this nationwide,” said Meralco First Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Hans R. Montenegro.
The pilot could serve as a model for broader collaboration with technical schools across the country, helping students develop skills relevant to energy sector careers while supporting the industry’s workforce needs.
BTCI, a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-accredited institution with more than 600 students, offers programs closely linked to Meralco’s operations, including Electrical Technology, Electric Installation and Maintenance, and Mechatronics.
Its competency-based training model and industry-focused approach make the school a promising source of job-ready technical talent.
BTCI President and Chief Executive Officer Engr. Tommy Joseph R. Abustan said the agreement gives students a clearer path toward professional advancement.
“There is a future here in Meralco because there is career growth and development. This partnership is a big opportunity for our students and our school,” Abustan said.
Meralco’s engineers will play a direct role in helping students connect their technical education with practical industry knowledge.
“We hope that through this partnership, students gain practical industry knowledge. Our Meralco engineers are ready to mentor and guide them, while providing meaningful industry exposure that they can use for their professional development,” said Meralco Senior Vice President and Head of Networks Engr. Froilan J. Savet.
