With the Philippines as among the most vulnerable to climate change, developing and implementing sustainability programs has become a must to ensure continuous economic growth and inclusive social development.

If left unaddressed, climate change will have a substantial economic impact in the Philippines — reducing the country's gross domestic product by as much as 13.6% by 2040 according to the World Bank's 2022 Philippines Country Climate and Development Report. This risk has prompted a recalibration of business practices across different industries with emphasis on sustainable growth.

Recognizing the vital role it plays as a major player in the Philippine energy industry, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) marks World Sustainability Day with a stronger commitment to powering the good life through a wide set of initiatives that aim to sustainably power cities and communities while preserving the planet, empowering people, and creating prosperity for all.

Charging towards a sustainable energy future

At the center of Meralco's sustainability thrust is its commitment to a just, orderly, and affordable transition to clean energy through decarbonization and sourcing a larger share of its supply portfolio from renewable energy (RE).

Recently, Meralco unveiled its plans to slash its direct emissions by over 20% through 2030 in line with the company's goal to become coal-free by 2050. This target covers Scope 1 emissions, which refer to greenhouse gas emissions directly generated by the company from its thermal power generation and from the use of fuel for vehicles and other equipment. Meralco, through its power generation arm, Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGen), is accelerating its RE buildout to develop greener generating capacities to power the country with sustainable energy.

To further strengthen its decarbonization efforts, Meralco has contracted 1,880 megawatts (MW) of RE supply—exceeding its initial target of 1,500 MW in compliance with and in support of the Department of Energy's Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) policy.

Under the RPS, electricity suppliers are mandated to increasingly source a portion of their requirements from RE given the government's goal to increase the share of RE in the country's energy mix to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040. Currently, the RPS requirement is set at +2.52% per annum.

Through Meralco's strategic sourcing initiatives, RE is expected to account for 22% of the distribution utility's supply portfolio by 2030, and 18% of Meralco's retail electricity supplier, MPower, by 2025.

This will eventually allow the company to reduce its total GHG emissions by 15% vis-à-vis its projected baseline 2030 emissions, in line with its energy transition commitment.

"Our just, orderly, and affordable transition to clean energy is at the core of our sustainability journey. And this commitment solidifies our drive to bring to life programs and initiatives that will help serve the country's growing energy demand with greener power," Meralco First Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer and President/CEO of Movem Electric, Inc. Raymond B. Ravelo said.

Driving progress with electric mobility

Embracing eco-friendly transportation is also one of the major initiatives of Meralco to drive sustainable progress.

For years, Meralco has been at the forefront of adopting alternative and sustainable transportation solutions through electric vehicles (EVs).

Meralco's Green Mobility program aims to electrify at least a quarter of its entire fleet by 2030. Meralco currently has 156 EVs in its fleet—equivalent to a 7% vehicle electrification rate, which is higher than the 5% mandate of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA).

The company has also installed EV charging stations in strategic locations across its franchise area. To continuously drive research on electric mobility, it also performs independent testing of EVs and chargers at the Meralco Power Lab—its testing facility for electricity consumption of various devices.

Meralco's EV deployments are made possible by the company's EV subsidiary, Movem, which offers integrated green mobility solutions. Movem aims to accelerate the transition to electric mobility by providing end-to-end solutions covering a broad range of EV options and charging infrastructure, tailor-fit to ensure a comprehensive and robust EV ecosystem.

One with the planet  through 'One For Trees'

Preservation and protection of the natural environment is likewise a key thrust of the distribution utility.

This year, Meralco marked an important sustainability milestone with two million trees planted through the One For Trees program of its social development arm One Meralco Foundation (OMF).  Covering forest lands and critical watersheds across the country, the One For Trees program contributes to the preservation and protection of Philippine forests through reforestation and creates livelihood opportunities for communities through agroforestry.

Under the program, OMF has forged partnerships with various organizations, such as the Green Earth Heritage Foundation in San Miguel in Bulacan, the Fostering Education and Environmental Development organization for Siniloan in Laguna, and various local government units in the provinces of Bohol, Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, among others.

Advancing diversity and inclusion with #Mbrace

Beyond electricity distribution and generation, Meralco's commitment to sustainability extends to people empowerment through its diversity and inclusion program #Mbrace. Through the program, Meralco significantly increased female representation in its workforce to 22%, over and above the global energy sector's average of 13%.

As part of its commitment to champion diversity and inclusion, Meralco pioneered the training and hiring of female linecrew in Southeast Asia in 2013. At present, Meralco has 20 female linecrew in its roster, with seven (7) more undergoing training.

By nurturing a safe, diverse, and inclusive workplace for its people, Meralco has become the first and only electric utility in the Philippines to be included in the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index—the only environmental, social, and governance (ESG) assessment in the world focused on gender equality in the workplace. Meralco was recognized for distinctive performance in anti-sexual harassment policies, gender pay parity, and building an inclusive culture.

Radiating brilliance with multiple international accolades

Meralco once again emerged as a beacon of excellence on the global stage, garnering a remarkable array of accolades for its transformative programs centered on sustainability and corporate social responsibility at the recently concluded 2023 International Business Awards. 

Meralco stood out as the sole recipient of the Gold Stevie under the "Sustainability Leadership Award in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand" category. This esteemed accolade acknowledged the company's exceptional dedication to embedding sustainability at the core of its corporate strategy and operations.

Furthermore, Ravelo was awarded a Gold Stevie, conferring him as the "Sustainability Hero of the Year in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand" in recognition of his leadership of Meralco's sustainability agenda. Demonstrating his vision and passion through the company's groundbreaking sustainability initiatives, Ravelo is the lone Gold Stevie winner and the first-ever recipient of this award which followed his earlier distinction as the "Sustainability Thought Leader of the Year" by Environmental Finance.

Moreover, Meralco's diversity and inclusion program, #Mbrace, was awarded a Bronze Stevie, in recognition of the program's comprehensive approach in advancing gender balance and inclusivity within the workplace.

Likewise, Meralco was honored with a Gold Stevie for its compelling 3-minute video, "Meralco's Spectrum on Solar Rooftop Installations: The Gift that Keeps on Giving," which underscored the myriad benefits of investing in solar power.

One Meralco Foundation's community development endeavors also came into the international spotlight, earning the company three (3) Bronze Stevies for its corporate social responsibility initiatives. These were the community energization project "Electrification for Development: Improving the Lives of Last-Mile Filipinos" that highlighted the transformative power of electricity in unserved and underserved communities across the archipelago; the "One for Trees: Empowering People and Communities to Nurture Our Forest, a practical approach to addressing climate change; and the "Powering-Up Communities During the Pandemic" proactive communications campaign that brave the challenges of community electrification during the global crisis.  

Completing Meralco's illustrious achievements is the Gold Stevie award presented to Meralco Vice President and Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer, Jeffrey O. Tarayao, for "Thought Leader of the Year." Tarayao, who also serves as President of OMF, was lauded for his exceptional ability to meld thought leadership with practical solutions.

Meralco, a recognized leader in the Philippine energy sector, has deeply rooted its sustainability agenda in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), with emphasis on clean energy, responsible consumption and production, and climate action.