From opening opportunities for women in a male-dominated industry to creating safer spaces for LGBTQ+ employees and improving workplace accessibility, Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is expanding what inclusion looks like on the job.
Those efforts earned the power distributor the Emerging Changemaker of the Year distinction at the 2026 Bahaghari Awards, organized by Philippine Financial & Inter-industry Pride (PFIP). The awards recognize organizations challenging established practices and advancing more inclusive workplaces.
At the heart of Meralco’s initiatives is #Mbrace, its company-wide Diversity and Inclusion program. Launched in 2021 with an initial focus on women’s empowerment, the program has broadened its reach to include LGBTQ+ colleagues and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Its approach combines visible expressions of support with practical changes to workplace facilities and conversations about belonging.
Rainbow crosswalks at Meralco’s Ortigas headquarters and sector offices have marked Pride Month celebrations, alongside employee storytelling campaigns and solidarity posters featuring senior leaders. These activities give diverse voices greater visibility and demonstrate leadership support for inclusion.
In partnership with PFIP, Meralco has also held forums and webinars, including “Proud to Be Me” and “Safe to Be Me,” to deepen employees’ understanding of gender, safe spaces and everyday allyship.
Beyond these activities, the company has expanded all-gender and universal restrooms across its facilities to support a more accessible and welcoming environment.
Meralco Chief Sustainability Officer Raymond B. Ravelo said the recognition reflects the role of inclusion in the company’s sustainability agenda, “Powering the Good Life.”
“As an Emerging Changemaker, we see #Mbrace not just as a program but as a movement woven into our sustainability agenda,” Ravelo said.
He pointed to efforts to open pathways for women, create safe spaces for LGBTQ+ colleagues and build opportunities for PWDs as ways to help employees contribute and belong.
“Inclusion strengthens our workforce, enriches our culture, and ensures that every individual has the opportunity to thrive,” he added.
Guided by its sustainability pillars of Power, Planet, People and Prosperity, Meralco is working to make fairness, respect and accessibility part of everyday workplace life—turning its commitment to diversity into changes employees can see and experience.
