BUSINESS
Advocates Philippines
Meralco Sends More Filipino Engineers Abroad To Train In Nuclear Power
FILE
The Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is stepping up its push for nuclear readiness, sending another batch of engineers overseas to specialize in nuclear engineering under its Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program.
Seven engineers from Meralco and its power generation arm, Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN), have been chosen for the program, which aims to build local expertise in one of the world’s most advanced and promising energy technologies.
Among the new batch are Rachelle Gesmundo-Varias, Regino Hibaler, Eljhon Capili, Keith Danae Suquib, Dennmarc Marcaida, Eljan Javellana, and Raymund Grant Pagulong.
Capili and Suquib are already pursuing their Master’s in Nuclear Engineering at Université Paris-Saclay in France, while Gesmundo-Varias and Hibaler have begun their Master of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering at Ontario Tech University in Canada. The remaining three — Marcaida, Javellana, and Pagulong — will head to the KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School in South Korea by early 2026.
Like the first batch of five scholars who began their studies in 2024 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (USA) and Harbin Engineering University (China), the new scholars will also undergo internships with global nuclear technology firms before returning home to contribute to the Philippines’ growing nuclear energy sector.
“Through the FISSION program, we are investing in the future of energy by equipping Filipino engineers with the specialized knowledge and global experience needed in the country’s adoption of nuclear power. This initiative reflects Meralco’s commitment to building a future-ready energy workforce and supporting the development of safe, secure, and sustainable nuclear energy for the Philippines,” said Meralco Executive Vice President and COO Ronnie L. Aperocho.
The FISSION program is run through the Meralco Power Academy (MPA), which has partnered with top global universities and research centers to expose Filipino engineers to cutting-edge nuclear laboratories, small modular reactor technologies, and real-world training in nuclear facilities.
The initiative forms part of Meralco’s Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition (NEST) program — a long-term plan to integrate nuclear energy into the country’s power mix as a clean, reliable, and low-carbon source of electricity.
By investing in Filipino talent today, Meralco hopes to position the Philippines as a serious player in the global shift toward next-generation energy solutions.
Seven engineers from Meralco and its power generation arm, Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN), have been chosen for the program, which aims to build local expertise in one of the world’s most advanced and promising energy technologies.
Among the new batch are Rachelle Gesmundo-Varias, Regino Hibaler, Eljhon Capili, Keith Danae Suquib, Dennmarc Marcaida, Eljan Javellana, and Raymund Grant Pagulong.
Capili and Suquib are already pursuing their Master’s in Nuclear Engineering at Université Paris-Saclay in France, while Gesmundo-Varias and Hibaler have begun their Master of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering at Ontario Tech University in Canada. The remaining three — Marcaida, Javellana, and Pagulong — will head to the KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School in South Korea by early 2026.
Like the first batch of five scholars who began their studies in 2024 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (USA) and Harbin Engineering University (China), the new scholars will also undergo internships with global nuclear technology firms before returning home to contribute to the Philippines’ growing nuclear energy sector.
“Through the FISSION program, we are investing in the future of energy by equipping Filipino engineers with the specialized knowledge and global experience needed in the country’s adoption of nuclear power. This initiative reflects Meralco’s commitment to building a future-ready energy workforce and supporting the development of safe, secure, and sustainable nuclear energy for the Philippines,” said Meralco Executive Vice President and COO Ronnie L. Aperocho.
The FISSION program is run through the Meralco Power Academy (MPA), which has partnered with top global universities and research centers to expose Filipino engineers to cutting-edge nuclear laboratories, small modular reactor technologies, and real-world training in nuclear facilities.
The initiative forms part of Meralco’s Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition (NEST) program — a long-term plan to integrate nuclear energy into the country’s power mix as a clean, reliable, and low-carbon source of electricity.
By investing in Filipino talent today, Meralco hopes to position the Philippines as a serious player in the global shift toward next-generation energy solutions.
Oct 16, 2025
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