Meralco pioneering nuclear workforce

Meralco Power Academy (MPA) is building a pool of highly-skilled Filipino professionals who will play a key role in the development of country’s nuclear energy industry.

Under its Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program, an initiative aimed at cultivating local nuclear engineers, MPA has partnered with globally recognized academic institutions to allow such professionals to gain access to cutting-edge nuclear laboratories, participate in research on small and micro modular reactors, and undergo internships with leading nuclear technology companies.

Seven engineers currently employed by Meralco and its power generation arm, Meralco PowerGen Corporation, are currently part of the FISSION program.

Four of the scholars are studying Master in Nuclear Engineering at Université Paris-Saclay in France, and in Ontario Tech University in Canada.

Three are heading to KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School in South Korea in the first quarter of 2026.

Similar to the pilot batch that started their scholarship last year in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States and Harbin Engineering University in China, the latest batch of engineers will be sent to nuclear technology firms for their internship before returning to the Philippines to practice their degrees.

“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. 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,” Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie L. Aperocho says.

The FISSION program is aligned with Meralco’s broader Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition program, the company’s flagship initiative to incorporate nuclear power into the Philippine energy mix as a long-term, low-carbon energy solution.

The latest batch of FISSION scholars consists of MGEN employees Rachelle Gesmundo-Varias, Regino Hibaler, Eljhon Capili, Keith Danae Suquib, Dennmarc Marcaida, Eljan Javellana and Raymund Grant Pagulong.