Meralco units join forces for sustainability initiatives

Meralco linemen examined the electric meter base at a post along Quezon Avenue in Quezon City on August 10, 2022.

STAR / Jesse Bustos

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Electric Co. (Meralco)’s local retail electricity supplier MPower and social development arm One Meralco Foundation (OMF) have joined forces for programs that seek to build a sustainable future for the country.

Meralco senior vice president and chief revenue officer Ferdinand Geluz, who also sits as a trustee of OMF, said the initiatives under the MPower and OMF partnership are part of Meralco’s commitment to serve its communities.

“Ensuring the education of the youth and preserving the environment are key initiatives aligned with Meralco’s vision to empower people and communities today to shape a future that we can all thrive in. We yearn to witness the ripple effect that these collective efforts will have on our communities and our country,” Geluz said.

MPower and OMF recently signed a Deed of Donation amounting to P1.5 million to seven selected schools in Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, and Zambales, benefiting over 15,000 elementary students.

Along with other partners, MPower and OMF have also conducted school electrification programs in off-grid locations, built nine kinder classrooms, and conducted back-to-school programs.

Meralco said the recent collaboration brings MPower’s cumulative donations for the program to P14.1 million, including contributions from its donor partners over the past eight years.

The latest collaboration also covered funding for MPower’s community tree planting program, which has been in partnership since 2015 with OMF’s One For Trees program.

MPower has successfully planted 12,853 trees in various sites in Luzon to date.

MPower first vice president and head Redel Domingo said the company’s collaboration with OMF is in line with their shared pursuit of building a more sustainable and brighter future for Filipinos.

“MPower has always looked for opportunities to give back to our communities. Teaming up with OMF has allowed us to make meaningful partnerships with our customers, which have achieved synergistic outcomes that benefit schools, communities, and the environment. We thank OMF for being an avenue for us to engage in endeavors that go beyond business,” Domingo said.

OMF president and Meralco chief corporate social responsibility officer Jeffrey Tarayao said OMF’s partnership with MPower continues to grow and prosper as they continue to aspire to reach more communities and put a bigger investment in the future of young Filipinos.

“We hope that these will translate to inclusive growth and build a brighter future for young Filipinos,” Tarayao said.

MPower, as a retail electricity supplier, is authorized by the Energy Regulatory Commission to sell, broker, market or aggregate electricity.

It intends to add more renewable energy sources in its supply portfolio as part of the company’s sustainability thrust and its support to the government’s push for clean energy.