BUSINESS
Advocates Philippines
Meralco Highlights Internal Audit As Key Driver Of Power Sector Transformation At HAPUA Summit
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The Manila Electric Company (Meralco), led by business leader Manuel V. Pangilinan, underscored the strategic importance of internal audit in shaping the future of the country’s power sector during the 2025 Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA) Internal Audit Summit.
In his keynote address, Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho highlighted how the role of internal audit has expanded beyond compliance to become a proactive enabler of risk-intelligent decision-making and operational discipline.
“By embedding audit foresight into strategic execution, we ensure that transformation happens with control, not chaos. This is especially vital as we pursue innovation without compromising risk standards or regulatory alignment,” Aperocho said.
Adding depth to this perspective, Meralco Senior Vice President and Group Chief Audit Executive Melanie T. Oteyza provided a strategic audit lens on the company’s digital transformation. She focused on the auditing of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), which she described as the “digital nervous system of modern utilities.”
Meralco’s AMI program has been a cornerstone of the government’s customer choice initiatives, such as the Retail Aggregation Program, which has successfully switched 19 aggregated groups comprising 292 services as of June.
Oteyza stressed that auditing AMI requires more than traditional assurance frameworks, pointing to the need for a holistic approach that addresses interdependent risks including cybersecurity, data integrity, vendor reliability, and regulatory compliance.
She also encouraged ASEAN auditors to embrace insights-driven auditing by leveraging artificial intelligence and analytics to detect anomalies, anticipate system weaknesses, and support predictive decision-making.
“Internal Audit must evolve from guardians of compliance to catalysts of resilience and innovation. Our role is not only to protect value—but to enable it,” she underscored.
In her presentation, Oteyza shared global lessons on AMI governance, resilience through cyber and operational safeguards, and data assurance. She urged ASEAN utilities to adopt these principles early to avoid common pitfalls and to strengthen regional audit maturity through collaboration and continuous learning.
The HAPUA Internal Audit Summit, held from August 13 to 14, 2025, brought together 150 delegates—including chief audit executives, leaders, and practitioners—from seven Southeast Asian countries.
Representing the Philippines at the summit were Meralco, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, the National Power Corporation, and the National Transmission Corporation. The annual gathering serves as a vital platform for expert-led discussions and collaborative sessions aimed at reinforcing audit practices across the region.
In his keynote address, Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho highlighted how the role of internal audit has expanded beyond compliance to become a proactive enabler of risk-intelligent decision-making and operational discipline.
“By embedding audit foresight into strategic execution, we ensure that transformation happens with control, not chaos. This is especially vital as we pursue innovation without compromising risk standards or regulatory alignment,” Aperocho said.
Adding depth to this perspective, Meralco Senior Vice President and Group Chief Audit Executive Melanie T. Oteyza provided a strategic audit lens on the company’s digital transformation. She focused on the auditing of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), which she described as the “digital nervous system of modern utilities.”
Meralco’s AMI program has been a cornerstone of the government’s customer choice initiatives, such as the Retail Aggregation Program, which has successfully switched 19 aggregated groups comprising 292 services as of June.
Oteyza stressed that auditing AMI requires more than traditional assurance frameworks, pointing to the need for a holistic approach that addresses interdependent risks including cybersecurity, data integrity, vendor reliability, and regulatory compliance.
She also encouraged ASEAN auditors to embrace insights-driven auditing by leveraging artificial intelligence and analytics to detect anomalies, anticipate system weaknesses, and support predictive decision-making.
“Internal Audit must evolve from guardians of compliance to catalysts of resilience and innovation. Our role is not only to protect value—but to enable it,” she underscored.
In her presentation, Oteyza shared global lessons on AMI governance, resilience through cyber and operational safeguards, and data assurance. She urged ASEAN utilities to adopt these principles early to avoid common pitfalls and to strengthen regional audit maturity through collaboration and continuous learning.
The HAPUA Internal Audit Summit, held from August 13 to 14, 2025, brought together 150 delegates—including chief audit executives, leaders, and practitioners—from seven Southeast Asian countries.
Representing the Philippines at the summit were Meralco, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, the National Power Corporation, and the National Transmission Corporation. The annual gathering serves as a vital platform for expert-led discussions and collaborative sessions aimed at reinforcing audit practices across the region.
Sep 1, 2025
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