REGIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Light Returns To Cagbalete As Meralco Powers Homes And Holiday Hope
Contributed Photo
Homes on Cagbalete Island are shining brighter this Christmas after the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), led by Manuel V. Pangilinan, officially switched on power for more households through its Microgrid System Project in Mauban, Quezon.
The ceremonial lighting was held on December 18, 2025, led by Meralco executives — Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho, Chief Revenue Officer Ferdinand O. Geluz, and Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer and One Meralco Foundation (OMF) President Jeffrey O. Tarayao — alongside key government leaders. Joining them were Department of Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin, Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan, Quezon Governor Dr. Angelina D.L. Tan, and Mauban Mayor Erwin Dwight C. Pastrana.
For Aperocho, the moment was about more than flipping a switch.
“We celebrate the fulfillment of a promise that progress should reach every Filipino home,” he said. “This project shows what’s possible when government, regulators, and the private sector work together for the greater good.”
Just in time for the holidays, Meralco, through One Meralco Foundation, also brought Christmas cheer to the island. The Our Lady of Fatima Chapel was lit up, while families received 100 Noche Buena packages. Students were given 300 Balik Eskwela kits filled with school supplies, and local schools and barangay offices received five printers and 12 laptops to support learning and community services.
Beyond the celebrations, the impact of the project is long-term. The Cagbalete Microgrid is designed to provide round-the-clock electricity to more than 1,000 households, achieving 100 percent household electrification on the island. It will also use renewable energy, helping offset up to 42,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions — a big step toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
For the residents of Cagbalete, the lights now stay on — bringing comfort, opportunity, and hope well beyond the holiday season.
The ceremonial lighting was held on December 18, 2025, led by Meralco executives — Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho, Chief Revenue Officer Ferdinand O. Geluz, and Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer and One Meralco Foundation (OMF) President Jeffrey O. Tarayao — alongside key government leaders. Joining them were Department of Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin, Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan, Quezon Governor Dr. Angelina D.L. Tan, and Mauban Mayor Erwin Dwight C. Pastrana.
For Aperocho, the moment was about more than flipping a switch.
“We celebrate the fulfillment of a promise that progress should reach every Filipino home,” he said. “This project shows what’s possible when government, regulators, and the private sector work together for the greater good.”
Just in time for the holidays, Meralco, through One Meralco Foundation, also brought Christmas cheer to the island. The Our Lady of Fatima Chapel was lit up, while families received 100 Noche Buena packages. Students were given 300 Balik Eskwela kits filled with school supplies, and local schools and barangay offices received five printers and 12 laptops to support learning and community services.
Beyond the celebrations, the impact of the project is long-term. The Cagbalete Microgrid is designed to provide round-the-clock electricity to more than 1,000 households, achieving 100 percent household electrification on the island. It will also use renewable energy, helping offset up to 42,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions — a big step toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
For the residents of Cagbalete, the lights now stay on — bringing comfort, opportunity, and hope well beyond the holiday season.
Dec 22, 2025
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