Wiping the sweat off her forehead, former migrant worker Zuzette Castro smiles as she looks back on her six-month journey in the Meralco Linecrew Training Program (MLTP), an opportunity that paved the way for her to stay in the Philippines to raise her one-year-old son.

From dispensing change at a gasoline station in Dubai, the 32-year-old mother returned to Manila at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to find a living to support her family while being physically present for her son.

"The thought of giving my son a better life is what kept me going and motivated to stay and find a job here in the Philippines," Castro said in Filipino.

As one of the 13 female trainees under the MLTP, Castro is now equipped to professionally climb utility poles. She is set to be assessed by Meralco for hiring and deployment so she can finally put her training to good use and serve her fellow Filipinos by helping ensure a steady power supply in areas serviced by the power distributor.

"Being a linecrew is hard but what motivates me is the thought that this job will allow me to provide for my family and be of service to the public," she said.

A comprehensive training course open to both men and women, the MLTP involves a series of lectures, thorough physical conditioning, critical assessments, and on-the-job training (OJT) program geared towards Meralco's efforts to continuously develop a pool of skilled linecrew.

This year's relaunch of the MLTP, which comprised 34 aspiring male and female linecrew, forms part of the power distributor's goal to increase women representation in the workforce to 40 percent by 2030.

"All of the new MLTP trainees are equipped with the necessary training and tools so that they can safely perform their jobs to the best of their abilities," MLTP Manager Roman Leandro Manlapaz said.

"I am confident that the latest batch of MLTP graduates will use their new learnings to help deliver excellent service to Meralco's customers," he added.

Castro recalled how she put her learnings to practice during her OJT when Severe Tropical Storm Paeng hit the country in early November and she was among those who helped restore power in Rizal province following the onslaught of the typhoon.

"The MLTP prepared us for the actual work of a linecrew and I experienced that firsthand. Our mentors ensured that we were equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills so we can do our work safely," she said, noting that trainees won't be allowed to complete the program ill-equipped for the job.

HEIGHTENED PUSH FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Traditionally operating in a male-dominated industry, Meralco pioneered the training and hiring of female linecrew in Southeast Asia back in 2013 as part of its commitment to champion diversity and inclusion.

At present, 11 women from the first MLTP batch are still working in Meralco in various capacities–helping deliver stable and reliable electricity service to the power distributor's customers.

Like Castro, John Dexter Alonte also joined the MLTP in hopes of finding a stable job so that he can better provide for his family after working as a contractual hardware salesman for three years.

"When you're a contractual worker, there are no benefits and there's always that worry of finding your next job," the 27-year-old Alonte said in Filipino. "Joining the MLTP gave me the opportunity to find a permanent job so I can provide more for my family."

Working as a linecrew, according to Alonte, would help him improve his family's life while being of service to his fellow Filipinos.

"There's that fulfillment of knowing that your work helps other people. It feels good to know that I am of service to the public," Alonte said.

Looking back on the six-month training program, Alonte said he was inspired by the dedication of the female linecrew aspirants who took on the same challenges as male linecrew aspirants.

"Seeing women take on jobs that are typically done by men motivates me to excel in my work since I can see them all striving to do well," Alonte said, adding: "When I feel discouraged or tired, I tell myself that if women can do it, so can I."

BUILDING A MORE GENDER-BALANCED WORKPLACE

The inclusion of female linecrew aspirants in the MLTP is part of #MBrace — Meralco's overarching diversity and inclusion program aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) 5 on Gender Equality and UN SDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities.

The program likewise fortifies Meralco's commitment to the UN Global Compact's Principle 6: Elimination of Discrimination in Employment and supports the UN Women's Empowerment Principles as well as the advocacies of the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment. True to its commitment to build a more gender-balanced workplace, Meralco has achieved 22 percent women representation as of 2021–double the global energy sector average of 11 percent.

#MBrace is an important part of Meralco's Sustainability Agenda called "Powering the Good Life" which is anchored on four pillars: Power, Planet, People, and Prosperity. The program cements Meralco's dedication to advancing diversity in a workplace that recognizes the contributions and the important role women play in the organization and in society.

Meralco also recently established a Diversity and Inclusion policy through which the company pledges to ensure equal employment opportunities for all and to respect all individual and value differences across gender, age, ethnicity, physical appearance, health, family status, religion, sexual orientation, and socio-economic background.