Demonstrating its commitment to nation-building and the development of future-ready energy professionals, Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Meralco Power Academy (MPA) brought its flagship PowerConvos lecture series to Mindanao, engaging more than 1,000 engineering students from Mindanao State University-General Santos (MSU-GenSan).
Held on April 15, 2026, the initiative provided students with valuable exposure to the evolving energy landscape, highlighting innovations in grid modernization, digital transformation, and sustainable power solutions. Through interactive discussions led by Meralco executives and industry experts, students gained insights into the real-world challenges and opportunities shaping the Philippine energy sector.
Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and MPA President Ronnie L. Aperocho, an MSU alumnus, emphasized the importance of innovation and resilience in strengthening the country’s power infrastructure.
“While our operations are primarily in Luzon, the challenges we face are the same challenges the country’s grid is confronting – including here in Mindanao. Over the past few years, Meralco has been deliberately revolutionizing distribution utility operations—deploying advanced distribution automation up to the grid-edge, big data analytics, and other cutting-edge, resilient, and cyber-secure systems and platforms,” Aperocho said.
The program also underscored the role of customer-centered innovation in delivering public value. Meralco Senior Vice President and Head of DU Subsidiaries and Strategic Partnerships Ferdinand O. Geluz shared how the company’s digital transformation initiatives are enhancing customer experience through accessible and efficient services.
Beyond knowledge-sharing, the initiative strengthened industry-academe collaboration between Meralco and MSU-GenSan, building on their 2025 partnership focused on knowledge exchange and practical learning opportunities for aspiring engineers and energy professionals.
To further support experiential learning, Meralco, through MPA, donated specialized power equipment to MSU-GenSan, reinforcing its advocacy of equipping students with hands-on learning resources that will help prepare them for the future of the energy industry.