Philex, Meralco sign accord to develop engineers of the future

MANILA, Philippines - Philex Mining Corp. and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) today signed an agreement that would advance their goals to enhance the technical capabilities and engineering competence of Philex Padcal electrical engineering team.

“This move will ensure excellent education and training for our workforces from the recognized leaders in the electrical engineering profession,” Marites Valerio, HR manager for Special Projects at Philex Mining and head of Philex Mining Academy (PMA), said.

She stressed that the memorandum of agreement (MOA) to be signed on Feb. 20 will allow better utilization of the expertise, facilities, and resources of the two companies under the MVP Group.

The accord would also make PMA and the Meralco Power Academy (MPA) to effectively address emerging issues and requirements of the mining business and the electrical-engineering profession and practice.

Created to tap some of the country’s best graduates in mining engineering, metallurgy, and geology, PMA places its recruits on a two-year, on-the-job training in preparation for full-time employment with Philex Mining for at least another three years. MPA, on the other hand, is a provider of training and energy solutions that leverage on Meralco’s 111-year of industry experience, expertise, and network.

“We are set to deliver our objectives through a partnership approach that utilizes only the best of programs and learning methodologies that have been tried and tested in the development of our own technical experts,” Agnes Fidelino, senior AVP at Meralco and head, of business development and marketing of  MPA, said. “Through this collaborative partnership project with our sister company, our Meralco experts are likewise given an opportunity to understand and innovate on approaches and applications of their expertise given the business needs of another company and industry can assure a strategic approach that meets changing needs.”