By Komfie Manalo
Dominant power distributor Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is sending its first batch of Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program to jumpstart its nuclear power generation unit.
The Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Meralco will send five engineers, Amiela Nicodemus, Gener Atienza, Kenneth Tulagan, Mark Justin Salas, and Marc Laurence Ceria, to participate in the two-year nuclear engineering program at partner institutions abroad.
"FISSION is a major step in accelerating the education and training of technical and regulatory talents in the highly specialized field of nuclear engineering. This manifests Meralco's steadfast commitment in continuously developing the workforce in the energy sector," Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie L. Aperocho said.
In a statement, the power distributor said Nicodemus and Atienza are set to start the program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States of America, while Tulagan, Salas, and Ceria will undertake it at Harbin Engineering University in China.
After completing the academic program, the FISSION scholars will be sent to nuclear technology companies for their internship. Once they return to the Philippines in 2028, they will be reintegrated into Meralco and be assigned to take on a role in its nuclear power generation unit.
The FISSION scholars underwent a meticulous screening process conducted by a selection committee composed of energy industry experts and academic professionals, including Dr. Ike Dimayuga from the Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. and Dr. Aura Matias, former dean of the University of the Philippines College of Engineering, among others.
Meralco Power Academy (MPA), the distribution utility's energy education unit, manages and oversees the rollout of FISSION, which was launched during its Giga Summit on nuclear, sustainable energy, and energy efficiency in September last year.
Since then, MPA has partnered with top-notch universities offering international graduate programs in nuclear engineering. This will allow scholars to access atomic energy laboratories and participate in ongoing research on small and micro modular reactors.
This initiative is part of Meralco's proactive bid to advance the push for integrating nuclear power into the country's energy portfolio. The program also aims to support the government's thrust to develop and achieve sustainable energy security.
Meralco welcomes Power Camp interns
MPA will also welcome 21 engineering students in its six-week Power Camp Internship Program, relaunched this year.
The students, who will come from partner universities in Metro Manila and Mindanao, will have their on-the-job training and industry immersion from July 3 to August 13, covering 240 internship hours.
The identified interns are high-performing engineering and science students from Ateneo de Manila University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of Sto. Tomas, Mapua University, and Mindanao State University, which their respective colleges endorsed.
"This country—and Meralco—should be prepared for and committed to nuclear energy. Supporting aspiring energy professionals will help build a talent pipeline of nuclear energy experts, paving the way for our country's smarter and greener future," Meralco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Manuel V. Pangilinan concluded.
In its relentless pursuit of driving innovation and transformation, Meralco is committed to furthering its contribution to the advancement of nuclear energy and other sustainable sources of power and the development of future power industry