Recognizing the critical role of teachers in shaping future generations, Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has launched a cyber security awareness program to empower educators in fostering a safe digital environment in the academe.

Aptly called Meralco Wavemaker, this community initiative spearheaded by the power distributor’s Cyber Security Group (CSG) and social development arm One Meralco Foundation (OMF) aims to empower educators to become advocates of digital safety and enable them to incorporate their learnings into their classrooms. The program involves a series of awareness training sessions to equip educators with a comprehensive understanding of foundational cyber security concepts.

Meralco engaged the Department of Education — National Capital Region (DepEd NCR) and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) for the pilot session of the program, which was participated in by a total of 60 public high school teachers from NCR led by DepEd Assistant Secretary for Operations Jocelyn DR. Andaya, who concurrently serves as regional director.

Dr. Andaya said the initiative ensures the readiness of the education sector in navigating the digital era and emphasized the importance of empowering more educators to respond to cybersecurity threats.

“We hope to replicate this so that more and more teachers will understand the threats to cybersecurity. It is here. It is happening. We just have to be made aware of it so that we know what to do,” she said during the pilot run of the program.

PNP-NCR Cyber Response Unit and Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit Police Colonel Jay Guillermo for his part discussed PNP’s initiatives to combat cybercrimes and enjoined the educators to proactively increase awareness and report incidents to the authorities.

The sessions also covered relevant topics including identifying cyber threats, practicing responsible digital citizenship, responding to cyberattacks effectively, and the wide array of career opportunities in the field of cyber security.

Meralco plans to conduct quarterly awareness training for secondary teachers across its franchise area, and eventually throughout the country.

“Wavemaker isn’t just an awareness program. We see it more as a movement to transform each Filipino into responsible digital citizens who understand the importance of digital safety and ethical online behavior. We aspire to a future where Filipino cyber security professionals are recognized globally,” Meralco’s chief information security officer Marilene P. Tayag said.

“This vision cannot be realized without empowering our teachers because they are the key to unlocking this potential. They are the force multipliers and the ideal ambassadors for cyber security. Together, we have the power to create waves of change and create a digital world where our nation can thrive securely,” she added.

Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie L. Aperocho for his part emphasized the significant influence of educators on students’ lives and their pivotal role in shaping their digital behavior and resilience.

“The Meralco Wavemaker program sends a strong message: cyber security is a community effort. We need partners to drive this forward, and with the inherent role of teachers as mentors and role models for students, they are the best partners in pushing this advocacy,” Aperocho said.

Strengthening cybersecurity partnership

As part of efforts to unify an intelligence community to promote a stronger and safer nation, the power distributor also reinforced their commitment to enhance cybersecurity measures by collaborating with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) the Philippine government’s primary intelligence gathering and analysis arm.

During a recent visit to the power distributor’s headquarters, Meralco and NICA pledged to work closely together for intelligence sharing, technology transfer, and establishment of institutional partnerships and long-term collaborations that transcend political cycles to ensure continuity beyond leadership change.

These initiatives demonstrate the company’s commitment to championing cyber security awareness beyond its corporate walls. By empowering educators with the knowledge to navigate the digital landscape safely, Meralco continues to lead the charge toward a safer and more resilient digital future for all Filipinos.