Meralco has taken a hands-on, family-first approach to disaster preparedness with the launch of its first-ever Survival Boot Camp, an immersive training program designed to equip communities with practical skills for surviving major emergencies, including a massive earthquake scenario known as “The Big One.”
Led by the newly established Meralco Rescue Academy, the two-day program placed participants in a simulated post-disaster environment, pushing them beyond lectures and into real-world readiness.
“Preparedness starts at home. The Meralco Rescue Academy reflects our commitment to building a culture of readiness, one that equips not just our employees, but their families as well to face emergencies with confidence and resilience,” said Meralco First Vice President and Head of Facilities, Safety, and Security Management Jerry B. Lao.
The inaugural batch brought together Meralco employees and their dependents, underscoring the company’s belief that preparedness must begin at home and extend to the wider community.
Participants camped overnight at the Meralco Operating Center in Pasig City, pitching tents at the Meralco Fitness Center Oval to recreate evacuation and temporary shelter conditions.
Families, including young participants, were immersed in hands-on activities that ranged from disaster aftermath awareness and water sanitation to fire starting, cooking, knot tying, and basic life support. One of the highlights saw children and adults alike learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation, reinforcing the idea that life-saving skills know no age limit.
The training was facilitated by Meralco Rescue volunteers, with support from the Pasig City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Bureau of Fire Protection–Pasig City, ensuring that participants received guidance rooted in actual emergency response protocols.
One Meralco Foundation added to the realism by donating canned goods, allowing families to practice resource management under simulated crisis conditions.
The program concluded with a debriefing and a sharing session led by Pasig DRRMO, which outlined the city’s disaster preparedness plans and emphasized the importance of strong coordination between the private sector and local government in building resilient communities.
With the Survival Boot Camp, Meralco signals a shift from awareness to action, reinforcing that true resilience is built not only through infrastructure, but through empowered, emergency-ready families.