Seven engineers from Meralco and its generation subsidiary Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGen) are participating in the program: Rachelle Gesmundo-Varias, Regino Hibaler, Eljhon Capili, Keith Danae Suquib, Dennmarc Marcaida, Eljan Javellana, and Raymund Grant Pagulong.

Capili and Suquib recently left for Université Paris-Saclay in France to pursue a Master in Nuclear Engineering, while Gesmundo-Varias and Hibaler are already taking their Master of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering at Ontario Tech University in Canada. The remaining scholars, Marcaida, Javellana, and Pagulong, will begin studies at the KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School in South Korea in early 2026.

This expansion follows the pilot batch of five scholars who began their degrees in 2024 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States and Harbin Engineering University in China. Like their predecessors, the new scholars will undergo internships at global nuclear technology firms before returning to the Philippines to apply their expertise.

Through the FISSION program, the Meralco Power Academy (MPA) seeks to develop a pool of highly skilled Filipino nuclear engineers who will play a vital role in the country’s future nuclear energy development. MPA’s partnerships with leading universities provide scholars access to state-of-the-art nuclear laboratories, research on small and micro modular reactors (SMRs), and hands-on training with global nuclear technology companies.

The initiative supports Meralco’s broader Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition (NEST) program, which aims to explore nuclear power as a low-carbon, long-term energy solution for the Philippines’ growing electricity needs.

“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 Ronnie L. Aperocho, Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “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.”

By developing local nuclear expertise, Meralco is helping position the Philippines to safely integrate nuclear power into its energy mix, contributing to the country’s energy security and decarbonization goals.