Manny Pangilinan
Meralco took center stage at the Giga Summit 2025, held at The Fifth in Rockwell, Makati City, in a powerful display of commitment to shaping the Philippines’ energy future. With the theme “The Fusion of Power and Intelligence,” the event brought together key players in the energy sector—government, industry leaders, and academia—to chart the course toward a more sustainable, technologically advanced power landscape for the country.
Meralco chairman and CEO (chief executive officer) Manuel V. Pangilinan and Meralco executive vice president and COO (chief operating officer) Ronnie L. Aperocho delivered compelling speeches outlining the company’s vision. Central to their message was a unified call to embrace renewable and sustainable energy sources—including nuclear—as essential to the nation’s long-term energy strategy.
Nuclear as a pillar of energy security
Highlighting Meralco’s strategic nuclear initiative, Pangilinan introduced the Meralco Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition (NEST), the company’s internal framework for exploring nuclear power. While he noted that “nothing is set in stone at this stage,” he emphasized that groundwork is actively being laid through international collaborations and academic training.
“We’ve had several visits abroad, we’re looking at viable modular nuclear energy,” Pangilinan stated, noting that even with promising technology, such as Korea’s Doosan small modular reactors, deployment could still be up to a decade away.
Meralco’s commitment is evident in its partnerships with international leaders in nuclear energy, including EDF of France, and in its collaboration with governments from the US, Canada, China, and Korea. “We are sending our second batch of engineers abroad—this time to Canada, France, Korea, and China—for academic and practical training,” Pangilinan said, emphasizing the importance of building local expertise.
COO Aperocho reinforced this strategic direction, declaring nuclear power a vital piece of the low-carbon puzzle. “The goal set by the Department of Energy of integrating 1,200 MW of nuclear power by 2032 is ambitious but necessary,” he said. “Meralco is fully committed to supporting this.”
Aperocho detailed the three-pronged NEST strategy: assessing the feasibility of rehabilitating the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, developing a full-scale new nuclear facility, and exploring the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) especially suitable for the country’s island-based geography. Through its FISSION scholarship program, Meralco is also developing a new generation of Filipino nuclear engineers, who are already sending scholars to prestigious universities worldwide.
Renewable energy and smart innovation
Beyond nuclear, both leaders showcased Meralco’s broader commitment to renewable energy and intelligent infrastructure. Aperocho pointed to the MTerra Solar project in the Philippines—the largest integrated solar PV plant with battery storage—as a leading example of Meralco’s renewable energy drive.
“Technology must go hand-in-hand with vision, policy, and people,” he remarked, highlighting initiatives such as the Wireless Private Network (WPN) and the Meralco Data Platform (MDP), which use AI and analytics to future-proof power distribution.
Pangilinan echoed the importance of smart grids and solar energy, noting, “The propagation of solar cannot happen rationally without an underlying IT layer, and those are smart meters.” He shared that Meralco has tested 150,000 smart meters from Huawei and is evaluating global procurement strategies to deploy these more widely.
Electric vehicles also play a part in Meralco’s green ecosystem. Pangilinan highlighted high-efficiency EV charging technology developed by Huawei, capable of delivering a 500 km range in just eight minutes, envisioning charging stations paired with lifestyle amenities like coffee shops.
A responsible and inclusive energy transition
For Pangilinan, energy transformation is not merely about innovation, investment, and social responsibility. “The ultimate test of our contribution and efficiency as a business is this question: have we left our people better off?” he said.
Both leaders emphasized collaboration—between the public and private sectors, academia, and global partners—as crucial to the nation’s energy journey. As Aperocho closed his remarks, he reminded attendees of Meralco’s mission: “Let us shape a power sector that is not only ready for the future but also ready to lead it.”
With visionary leadership and concrete steps already underway, Meralco’s drive for renewable, sustainable, and nuclear energy marks a decisive push toward a secure and intelligent energy future for the Philippines.
