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The Manila Electric Company (Meralco), led by Manuel V. Pangilinan, has taken another big step toward securing the country’s energy future by completing nine major capital expenditure (capex) projects in the second quarter of 2025. These developments are designed to keep electricity supply stable, reliable, and efficient for customers across its franchise area — from the bustling streets of Metro Manila to high-growth provinces in Bulacan, Laguna, and Quezon.

According to Meralco First Vice President and Head of Networks Froilan J. Savet, the new projects are part of a broader strategy to make the power distributor’s infrastructure “future-ready,” ensuring it can handle rising energy demand, adapt to changing customer needs, and withstand the challenges of extreme weather conditions.

Adding More Power to the Grid

Between April and June this year, Meralco commissioned projects that together add 450 megavolt-amperes (MVA) of capacity. These improvements will ease the strain on the grid and boost service reliability in Makati, Pasig, Parañaque, and Quezon City, as well as several towns in Laguna and Quezon.

One of the standout projects is the ASEANA 115 kV – 34.5 kV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) Substation in Parañaque City, which now supports major commercial establishments such as ASEANA 3, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Seda Manila Bay, Bayprime Hotel, and Uni-Asia International Prime Holdings Inc.

To strengthen supply in Metro Manila’s business districts, Meralco also expanded the Bridgetowne GIS Substation — serving customers in Pasig and Quezon City including high-rise towers and malls — and the Makati GIS Substation, which supports establishments like Cash & Carry Mall, St. Clare’s Medical Center, and nearby residential areas.

In Southern Luzon, the capacity of the Tayabas Power Transformer was tripled from 100 MVA to 300 MVA, meeting the growing electricity needs of communities in Quezon and Laguna.

Improving Reliability Across the Network

Beyond capacity expansion, Meralco energized five major projects aimed at strengthening its sub-transmission backbone. In Laguna, the Dila-Real 115 kV line upgrade now ensures more reliable service for customers in Calamba, Los Baños, Bay, Pila, and Calauan.

In Bulacan, the completion of the Malolos-Tabang and Malolos-Calumpit 69 kV lines not only supports rising demand but also provides critical power infrastructure for the Department of Transportation’s North-South Commuter Railway project.

Meralco also introduced its first fully indoor GIS switching station in Regalado, Quezon City, enhancing operational flexibility and ensuring reliable supply to facilities like ST Telemedia Global Data Centers.

In Cavite, the Abubot Substation received new 115 kV circuit breakers and other equipment upgrades to meet the power needs of commercial hubs, healthcare institutions, and schools, including De La Salle University Medical Center, Emilio Aguinaldo College, and San Miguel Yamamura.

Commitment to Powering Progress

Savet emphasized that these initiatives are part of Meralco’s mission to modernize infrastructure and fuel the country’s socio-economic growth.

“These infrastructure investments reflect our unwavering commitment to power progress and ensure that our customers have access to reliable, sufficient, and high-quality electricity,” he said. “As demand continues to grow, we will continue to upgrade and expand our facilities, strengthening our distribution network which serves as the backbone of our efforts to support the country’s economic development.”

With these projects now energized, Meralco reinforces its role as a key driver of progress — keeping the lights on and the economy moving forward.