In the weeks leading up to Christmas, One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Manila Electric Company, brought light to 1,766 low-income households that had long relied on unsafe and costly electricity arrangements.

Through its Household Electrification Program (HEP), OMF worked with Meralco business centers and local government units to provide direct, legal power connections to families in Manila, Pasig, Parañaque, and Quezon City, as well as communities in Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna. For many beneficiaries, the program ended years of dependence on submetering or illegal connections that posed safety risks and inflated monthly costs.

In Quezon City, electrification activities reached multiple barangays including South Triangle, Escopa 3, West Riverside, F. Carlos, Sitio Militar, K-9 Compound, Greenland, and Tumana. With their homes now energized, residents gained access to reliable electricity at standard Meralco rates—often significantly lower than what they previously paid through informal arrangements.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said access to electricity goes beyond infrastructure, describing it as an enabler of dignity and opportunity for families. She noted that bringing light to underserved communities supports the city’s broader goal of improving quality of life and public safety.

Meralco Head of Customer Retail Services Charina P. Padua said the program directly addresses the risks posed by unsafe connections. “These families, who once depended on unsafe connections—such as tapping into a neighbor’s line or using submeters—now enjoy a safe, reliable, and legal power supply,” she said, adding that Meralco and OMF remain committed to reaching more households in need.

In Manila, OMF also energized 179 households in four barangays ahead of Christmas, including areas in the Baseco Compound and Port Area. City officials and Meralco representatives led lighting ceremonies marking the families’ transition to safe and dependable electricity service.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso, through City Administrator Eduardo Quintos XIV, said the electrification effort reflects the city’s commitment to ensure every household has access to reliable and sustainable power. He emphasized that the initiative helps improve daily living conditions while empowering families and communities.

Similar efforts reached Pasig City, where 168 low-income households received their own Meralco connections. Mayor Vico Sotto highlighted the public safety benefits of replacing jumpers and submeters with legal power service, noting that the program protects residents while reducing their electricity costs.

OMF Trustee and Meralco Chief Revenue Officer Ferdinand O. Geluz said the Household Electrification Program is an investment in long-term community development. “Beyond providing electricity, it is about strengthening families, empowering communities, and supporting inclusive and sustainable nation-building,” he said.

Beyond Metro Manila, OMF energized 987 additional households this year in Cavite, Rizal, Marikina, Quezon Province, Parañaque, Mandaluyong, and Taguig, extending the program’s reach to both urban and provincial communities.

Meralco Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer and OMF President Jeffrey Tarayao said the Christmas electrification drive made the season more meaningful for both beneficiaries and volunteers. “Our mission in One Meralco Foundation is to illuminate these households so families can welcome the new year with renewed hope and productivity,” he said.

To date, One Meralco Foundation has energized more than 84,000 low-income households nationwide, supporting the government’s target of achieving 100% electrification by 2028. For OMF and Meralco, the goal remains clear: ensure that no Filipino family is left in the dark.

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