Meralco steps up support to future electrical engineers

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) continues to step up its efforts in helping shape the next generation of electrical engineers in the country.

In a bid to elevate the learning experience of electrical engineering students, Meralco, through its corporate social development arm One Meralco Foundation (OMF), turned over various electrical system equipment to the Mindanao State University (MSU) main campus in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.

These consist of equipment for the simulation of a mini substation, which will be used for the laboratory training of electrical engineering students.

It also include a protection and control panel, a vacuum circuit breaker, a control switch, miniature circuit breakers, multimeters, battery chargers, voltmeters, and test leads.

“Meralco is one with MSU in enhancing its educational offerings as it moves forward from recent challenges faced by the university. This donation signals the start of a fruitful and productive partnership between Meralco and MSU,” Meralco executive vice president and chief operating officer Ronnie Aperocho said.

MSU president Basari Mapupuno assured that Meralco’s donation would be used wisely and responsibly to enhance the university’s educational opportunities and advancements.

“This gift will equip our electrical engineering students with the tools not just to become engineers but agents of change,” he said.

Through OMF, Meralco has also been actively supporting students pursuing a career in the energy industry with scholarship grants.

Under the MpowHER scholarship program, Meralco recently awarded 18 female college students with financial support to help them pursue their dreams of becoming professional electrical engineers.

“It is Meralco’s hope that this equipment will be used for real-life applications of classroom learnings and contribute to further upskilling of MSU electrical engineering students,” Meralco chief corporate social responsibility officer and OMF president Jeffrey Tarayao said.

“We look forward to more innovative collaborations to further enhance the learning experience of the next generation of electrical engineers,” he said.

Meralco also launched last year the Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering program in a bid to develop skilled professionals and advance the country’s push for the integration of nuclear power in its energy portfolio.

The company plans to invest in local talents and support aspiring Filipino nuclear engineers to help accelerate the development of the country’s technical and regulatory talent pipeline through education and training in the highly specialized field of nuclear engineering.