Photo credit: Inquirer Campus Talks

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is intensifying efforts to prepare the country’s energy workforce for the rapid changes sweeping the power sector, with a focus on digitalization, renewable integration, and emerging technologies.

At the recent Inquirer Campus Talks themed “Skilling the Workforce for the Future of the Power Industry”, Meralco First Vice President and Head of Networks Froilan J. Savet underscored the need to equip talent for a smarter and more resilient grid.

Savet described how the sector is shifting “from traditional to smart powered by sensors, smart meters and artificial intelligence to gain real-time visibility and control; from centralized to distributed with solar rooftops, microgrids and community batteries; and from passive to interactive where consumers become ‘prosumers.’”

He noted that the rise of renewable energy, electric vehicles, and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) demands a workforce with both technical and soft skills. “A career in the power sector is not just a job. It’s a mission to change lives. This is the kind of work that builds not just careers—but a nation,” Savet said.

Meralco has launched a range of programs to build this capability. The company sponsors employees pursuing advanced degrees and professional licenses, has trained more than 180 individuals in data analytics and coding, and regularly benchmarks with global utilities and industry leaders. It also invests in local capability through the PowerTech Smart Grid Lab.

Further strengthening its talent pipeline, the Meralco Power Academy established the Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program, which sends Filipino scholars abroad to gain expertise in nuclear energy and bring it back to the local industry.

The Inquirer Campus Talks gathered students and young professionals to discuss the evolving energy landscape and the role of the next generation in shaping it. Meralco’s participation highlighted its broader push to inspire and empower future energy leaders as the Philippines moves toward a cleaner and more innovative power system.

With the energy transition accelerating, how should companies and academic institutions collaborate to close the skills gap in the Philippine power sector?

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