Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has taken a significant step in its long-term sustainability strategy (LTSS) by committing a significant capital investment up to 2030 to help achieve energy security and contribute to the nation’s development.
“With sustainability deeply embedded in Meralco’s operations and long-term plans, we are proud to commit over P100 billion in capital expenditures to initiatives that not only enhance our infrastructure but also align with the government’s vision for a sustainable future,” Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho said.
The substantial capital injection will catalyze critical projects intended to fortify Meralco’s distribution network, making it not only sustainable but also smarter and more resilient in the face of the increasing climate change challenges.
Meralco shall embark on key initiatives such as enhancing grid reliability, reducing system loss, transitioning to natural ester oil for distribution transformers, implementing energy efficiency solutions, and expanding electric vehicle (EV) fleets and infrastructure.
Aligned with its just, orderly, and affordable transition to clean energy, Meralco is ramping up its renewable energy (RE) buildout through MGen Renewable Energy, Inc. (MGreen), a wholly owned subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen Corporation, to accelerate the development of RE projects primarily from solar and wind sources.
“Core to our long-term sustainability strategy are twin commitments to secure 1,500 MW of renewable energy supply contracts and to develop 1,500 MW of attributable green energy generation capacity. This underscores our dedication to our low-carbon transition and to serving the country’s growing energy demand with clean power,” emphasized Meralco first vice president and chief sustainability officer Raymond Ravelo.
Meralco has also allocated funds to promote the adoption of solar energy solutions for businesses and homes through subsidiary MSpectrum, and to champion social development and amelioration programs through One Meralco Foundation’s (OMF) solar electrification initiatives targeting underserved households, rural health centers, water access projects, and livelihood programs.
OMF programs
OMF recently planted and nurtured 125,000 native mangroves in Del Carmen in Siargao Islands, Surigao Del Norte as it celebrates this year’s World Wetlands Day.
This significant initiative under OMF’s environmental program One For Trees (OFT), in partnership with the local government of Del Carmen and people’s organization Kaanib ng mga Mangingisda at Magsasaka ng Numancia (KAMAMANA), aims to uphold the importance of wetlands located in the western part of the teardrop-shaped island. The groups joined hands for this initiative in observance of the World Wetlands Day with the theme, “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing.”
The Del Carmen Mangrove Forest Reserve, sprawling over 4,800 hectares, is one of the largest in the country.
It serves as a diverse habitat for different mangrove species and various land and marine organisms that provide the residents with food supply and sources of income.
The mangrove forest also helps reduce organic pollution and can protect communities against intense winds and waves in the typhoon-prone country.
The Del Carmen Mangrove Forest Reserve is an official nominee to the UN Ramsar Convention of Wetlands of International Importance – a step closer to putting one of Mindanao’s famous islands into the global map of wetland conservation.
As part of its ongoing environmental sustainability efforts, Del Carmen has initiated a reforestation project in three sites covering 50 hectares. This project, supported by OFT, will be a source of livelihood and income to KAMAMANA members and their families.
“Del Carmen is grateful for the support of One Meralco Foundation and the MVP Group through the One for Trees Program to increase awareness on the need of post-typhoon rehabilitation, the support to rehabilitate the Del Carmen Mangrove Forest Reserve and explore innovative solutions to maximize community-based livelihood to sustain the people’s behavior towards environmental conservation. It shows the continued commitment of LGU Del Carmen and the MVP group to ensuring a fairer and equitable world in which we live,” Del Carmen Mayor Alfredo Coro shared.
Since 2022, OMF has committed to reforesting mangrove sites as part of its efforts for environmental sustainability and encouraging community participation to protect and preserve forests and mangrove sites that are also the source of livelihood in the communities. OFT has planted and is nurturing 2,330,729 trees, of which 322,079 are mangroves.
“Reversing the losses in our environment takes more than just tree-planting activities; it takes conscientious efforts—from volunteers, to the local government partners, to the community—to grow, nurture and protect these trees so that the community can also reap economic and social benefits from them and over the long term, help mitigate the extreme effects of global warming and climate change. Ultimately, it is an investment for a more sustainable world for the future generation as well,” according to OMF president and Meralco chief sustainability officer Jeffrey Tarayao.
Accelerating green transition
These strategic investments are pivotal in driving Meralco’s LTSS, which aims to reduce total emissions by 20 percent by 2030, encompassing both direct emissions from onsite activities and indirect emissions from purchased electricity, supply chain operations, and services provided.
Meralco chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan affirmed the power distributor’s commitment to accelerate its transition to green energy by leveraging next-generation technologies such as nuclear energy and battery energy systems, charting a course towards deep decarbonization with the goal to become coal-free by 2050.
“As we pursue our decarbonization strategies, we envision a thriving society with access to education, clean water, quality healthcare, dignified livelihoods, and disaster preparedness—all in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs),” Pangilinan said.
Established in 2019, Meralco’s sustainability agenda, “Powering the Good Life,” is deeply rooted in the UN SDGs and supported by four pillars: Power, Planet, People, and Prosperity.