One Meralco Foundation has energized more than 300 geographically isolated schools using solar lights from 2011 to 2025.
“We’ve energized 305 schools around the country as of the end of 2025,” One Meralco Foundation president Jeffrey Tarayao told members of the PaMaMariSan-Rizal Press Corps during a lunch meeting over the weekend. “We’re the only foundation doing that.”
Aside from public schools, the foundation has also energized rural health centers.
“On average, I think people in the community have to walk about 2.6 kilometers to reach the nearest health center. Otherwise, they have to go to the main health center, which is about 9 to 10 kilometers away,” Tarayao said.
Outside its franchise areas, Meralco provides energy access to underprivileged communities using solar lights, he added.
“We really focus on the remotest areas. First of all, schools are being energized by electric power. But the schools that are very far away are the ones you need to travel two hours to reach,” Tarayao said.
Aside from schools and health centers, Meralco also energizes agriculture and livelihood facilities.
“For example, a coffee processing facility in Bukidnon. Right now, they are providing beans,” Tarayao said.
“There’s also a fish processing facility on an island in Surigao del Norte. If you go to Siargao, this one is on another island, about two hours away by boat,” he added.