As awareness on environmental sustainability, ethical business practices and corporate social responsibility grows, Philippine companies have been taking significant strides in committing to causes that matter to society.
Manila Electric Company (Meralco), one of the country’s biggest companies, has taken a small but genuine step towards helping those who cannot speak for themselves — homeless animals. Initially focusing on the well-being of community cats, the Manuel V. Pangilinan-led company has started an impactful animal welfare program that brings together employees and the wider community in a shared mission to promote responsibility.
According to studies, consumers are more likely to support businesses that align with their values, including animal welfare and ethical treatment of animals.
As a company primarily known for distributing electricity to households and businesses, Meralco recognizes that its simple initiative can create a ripple effect and enjoin a bigger community that extends compassion to animals, promotes ethical practices, and fights against animal cruelty.
Cats living outdoors is a natural and longstanding phenomenon. Known as community cats, these unowned felines have coexisted with humans for centuries, adapting to urban, suburban, and rural environments. At Meralco’s headquarters in Pasig City, a growing population of these community cats has been observed, with approximately 80 cats calling Meralco their home. These affectionate and charming cats have captured the hearts of Meralco employees, many of whom view them not as strays but as an important part of the community.
“I feel so happy whenever I take care of and feed the cats here at Meralco. It relieves my stress and brings me pure joy,” said Gloria Santiago, one of the employee volunteers who looks after the community cats in Meralco.
Even with the natural heartwarming appeal of animals to people, there is still a growing concern about the population of these community cats given their rapid reproduction. The Humane Society of the United States reports that a single unneutered female cat and her offspring can grow into a feral colony of up to 30 cats within a year. Furthermore, in 2022, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) declared that the issue of animal homelessness in the Philippines has reached crisis levels. According to the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), there are currently twelve million stray cats and dogs in the country, with the Philippines ranking sixth globally in number of rabies cases.
With a lot of cats within its care, Meralco took its social responsibility a step further by advocating animal welfare and public safety which led to what is now called “CATropa” initiative.
“Meralco’s animal welfare program supports the well-being of our community cats by having them spayed and neutered. Our initiatives under the program not only help control the overpopulation of the stray cats but also significantly impact public health by reducing the risk of rabies,” said Meralco vice president and head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga, who himself is an advocate and carer of two stray cats.
This initiative also aligns well with Meralco’s core value of “malasakit,” which translates to compassion or concern.
Much like the saying “It takes a village to raise a child,” Meralco’s animal welfare program proves that it takes a collective effort to help animals in need, bringing together employee volunteers, animal welfare groups and advocates, and local communities to make a lasting impact on the lives of community cats.
At the heart of Meralco’s advocacy is a commitment to spaying and neutering cats to address overpopulation and promote healthier, happier lives for these vulnerable animals. Meralco has been implementing the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (TNVR) program within its compound with the help of fellow advocate Biyaya Animal Care.
With TNVR widely recognized as the most humane and effective method for managing feral and community cat populations while also enhancing their overall well-being, Meralco plans to extend the initiative to its sector offices within its franchise area.
Aside from making Meralco properties a safe space for community animals, the company has been partnering with like-minded groups and local government units (LGUs) through City Veterinary Offices.
By working together and collaborating with them, the company aims to empower these local leaders by offering them support and resources to provide accessible neutering and spaying services.
For Meralco, partnering with entities beyond its corporate walls helps address the overpopulation of stray animals in various communities, promoting better animal welfare and public health on a broader scale.
Last year, Meralco successfully carried out a campaign called “Spay It Forward” in Pateros, the only municipality in Metro Manila without its own veterinary office, where over 120 dogs and cats received free spaying/neutering and anti-rabies vaccinations.
“We are grateful to Meralco for empowering our municipality to prioritize animal welfare through its Spay It Forward campaign. Together, we’re building a more compassionate community,” said Pateros Mayor Ike Ponce had said.
The activity was made possible with the collaboration among the Pateros LGU, the Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA), and Biyaya Animal Care.
“Meralco’s animal welfare advocacy is very much aligned with our PVMA Rabies Elimination initiative and we believe it will be synergistic with our program. If we align and combine our efforts and resources, we will be able to do more both for the animals and the pet owners alike,” said PVMA President Dr. Harris Constantino.
“The humane approach to animal control is spay/ neuter, vaccinations, and education. Planned Pet Parenthood is a key factor that contributes to a healthier community that is inclusive of cats and dogs,” Biyaya Animal Care co-founder and president Rina Ortiz, for her part, said.
This year, Meralco is expanding its efforts by partnering with more animal welfare groups and LGUs to provide accessible spay and neuter services.
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) recently honored Meralco with the prestigious Platinum Paw Award for its outstanding commitment to animal welfare. This recognition, the highest given by PAWS, is awarded to individuals and organizations that have shown unparalleled support and contribution to animal welfare causes.
The award also highlights the two-decade-long “pawtnership” between Meralco and PAWS. Since 2001, Meralco has been a key supporter, providing land for the PAWS Animal Shelter in Quezon City and serving as PAWS’ largest donor. Through this long-standing partnership, Meralco has played a vital role in sheltering rescued animals and supporting PAWS’ low-cost spay-neuter clinic.
“Meralco embodies the company that walks the talk in terms of furthering the cause of animal welfare in our country, and we hope that other companies will follow suit in terms of incorporating animal welfare and caring for community animals in their corporate culture and policies. I think they are the only company that can brag to have all these, and we’re very proud to be a partner of Meralco,” PAWS executive director Atty. Anna Cabrera had said.
Meralco stands among champions of animal welfare and looks forward to collaborating with like-minded organizations and individuals to create a future where both humans and animals thrive. With a spirit of unity, Meralco’s efforts are proving that it truly does take a village to make a meaningful difference.
“This recognition from PAWS serves as a profound inspiration for us to further champion animal welfare — a cause that deeply embodies malasakit, one of our core values. Meralco remains steadfast in its commitment to this advocacy of ensuring humane treatment of animals in society,” executive vice president and chief operating officer Engr. Ronnie L. Aperocho said.
Meralco continuously supports PAWS’ causes, including its recent fundraising event in celebration of Valentine’s Month.
“Furst Date” is a 6-day event that provided an avenue where people can spend time with the rescue dogs and cats under PAWS’ care. The funds raised will be dedicated to the care and well-being of these rescued animals.
One of the most anticipated initiatives of this program is the creation of a community cats’ home — an open catio designed to provide a safe and secure space for these beloved felines within the Meralco compound. This sanctuary will not only protect the community cats but also foster a harmonious coexistence between animals and humans.
Currently under construction, the project is being led by the company’s Facilities and Safety Management team, ensuring that every detail is carefully planned to provide comfort and security for the cats.
More than just a shelter, this initiative embodies Meralco’s deep-rooted value of malasakit — demonstrating that compassion is not only extended to colleagues, customers, and communities but also to the animals that share our spaces
“One of Meralco’s core values is malasakit — care for others, care for customers, and care for the community. Most importantly, it includes care for animals. Here at the Meralco compound, we ensure that every animal, especially our cats, is well taken care of. We handle them with special care,” said Meralco’s head of Facilities and Safety Management Jerry B. Lao.
As part of Meralco’s commitment to animal welfare, the company actively promotes education and awareness of its importance. A key focus of this advocacy is championing humane solutions to cat overpopulation, while also encouraging responsible pet ownership within the community.
To further engage and inform the public, Meralco has introduced the CATropa Facebook page, a social media community that serves as a channel for sharing updates, educational content, and success stories about its animal welfare initiatives.
Additionally, Meralco plans to conduct training sessions and seminars on animal welfare for its employees, fostering a culture of compassion and responsibility within the organization and beyond.