The Manila Electric Company (Meralco), led by Manuel V. Pangilinan, has deployed another batch of engineers overseas under its Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program, as part of its efforts to cultivate local expertise in nuclear energy.
Seven engineers from Meralco and its power generation subsidiary, Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGen), have been selected to pursue advanced studies in nuclear engineering at partner academic institutions abroad.
Rachelle Gesmundo-Varias and Regino Hibaler have begun their Master of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering programs at Ontario Tech University in Canada, while Eljhon Capili and Keith Danae Suquib are now taking up Master in Nuclear Engineering at Université Paris-Saclay in France.
Three more scholars — Dennmarc Marcaida, Eljan Javellana, and Raymund Grant Pagulong — are scheduled to study at the KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School in South Korea in early 2026.
The new group follows the pilot batch of five engineers who began their studies in 2024 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States and Harbin Engineering University in China. All participants in the program are expected to undergo internships at nuclear technology firms before returning to the Philippines to apply their expertise.
Through the FISSION program, the Meralco Power Academy (MPA) aims to build a pool of highly skilled Filipino professionals capable of contributing to the country’s future nuclear energy development.
MPA has partnered with globally recognized universities to give scholars access to advanced nuclear laboratories, research opportunities in small and micro modular reactors, and hands-on experience through internships with leading nuclear technology companies.
The initiative complements Meralco’s broader Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition (NEST) program, which seeks to integrate nuclear power into the country’s energy mix as a long-term, low-carbon energy source.
"Through the FISSION program, we are investing in the future of energy by equipping Filipino engineers with the specialized knowledge and global experience needed in the country’s adoption of nuclear power," said Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho.
"This initiative reflects Meralco’s commitment to building a future-ready energy workforce and supporting the development of safe, secure, and sustainable nuclear energy for the Philippines."