Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN) has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive and sustainable development in Quezon Province as it prepares to begin construction of the 1,200 MW Atimonan Energy power plant. 

In a recent meeting with Quezon Governor Helen Tan, MGEN pledged to prioritize hiring within the province and roll out skills training programs in coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

“We are not just building a power plant—we are helping build communities. We are committed to making sure the people of Quezon are the first to benefit from the opportunities this project will create. That means investing in their training, hiring locally, and working with government partners like TESDA to build lasting skills that go beyond construction,” said Lino Bernardo, Chief Operating Officer of MGEN’s thermal arm.

The Atimonan plant is expected to generate up to 6,000 construction jobs and create around 300 long-term roles once operational.

Governor Tan has called on MGEN to ensure that economic growth from the project uplifts local workers and accelerates regional development.

The project will use ultra-supercritical high-efficiency, low-emission (HELE) coal technology, a system that enables greater energy output with lower fuel consumption. HELE plants reduce carbon emissions and are widely used in South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, and China.

Once completed, the Atimonan Energy facility will account for approximately 7% of Luzon’s total electricity demand, enough to power 5 million homes based on average household usage. MGEN estimates the plant will help cut electricity costs by around PHP12 billion per year, delivering more affordable and reliable baseload power.

Beyond generation, the plant is expected to deliver over PHP 1 billion in annual economic contributions to Quezon Province through real property taxes and funding for local development programs.

MGEN said it will model its Quezon training initiatives after its experience at the MTerra Solar Project in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, where the company partnered with TESDA to provide site-specific technical training. MTerra is currently the largest integrated solar and battery storage project in the world.

This broader approach reflects MGEN’s policy of ensuring its energy projects deliver not just electricity, but also real socio-economic benefits to host communities.

The Atimonan Energy plant is among the most advanced coal projects in the Philippines and plays a key role in bolstering the country’s energy security, particularly during periods of supply instability.

While MGEN continues to grow its renewable portfolio, the company said it recognizes the current need for affordable, stable, and dispatchable energy, especially as variable solar and wind sources scale up.

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