BUSINESS
Advocates Philippines
Meralco Pushes Digital Trust, Cybersecurity At Major Summit
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Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is stepping up its efforts to strengthen cybersecurity, data privacy, governance, and compliance as digital threats continue to evolve in today’s technology-driven environment.
The power distributor recently gathered industry leaders, government agencies, private sector partners, and advocacy groups for its first-ever Audit, Governance, Cybersecurity, and Compliance (AGCC) Summit 2026, highlighting the growing importance of trust and resilience in the digital age.
Held on May 15 at Meralco’s headquarters in Ortigas, Pasig City, the summit carried the theme “Next Generation Assurance: Driving Confident Decisions in a Digital Future.” More than 1,000 participants attended the event both onsite and online, representing organizations from One Meralco, the JG Summit Group, the MVP Group, and professional associations focused on audit, governance, and information security.
The event featured discussions from experts and government officials who shared insights on emerging cyber threats, data privacy challenges, and the role of governance in maintaining public trust.
Among the speakers was National Privacy Commission Deputy Commissioner Juan Paolo Fajardo, who emphasized the importance of data privacy in building confidence among stakeholders.
“Trust is the most valuable currency in the digital age and unlike financial capital it cannot be borrowed, it cannot be manufactured, it cannot be recovered quickly once it is lost. The true measure of progress is whether systems are worth trust,” Fajardo said.
Officials from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) also participated in the summit, discussing issues ranging from misinformation and digital fraud to improving governance and ease of doing business in an increasingly digital landscape.
Cybersecurity expert Robert Dang of InfoTech Research Group tackled the growing risks posed by artificial intelligence-driven threats, explaining how organizations can strengthen defenses as cyberattacks become more sophisticated.
Meralco Senior Vice President and Chief Audit Executive Melanie T. Oteyza said audit, governance, cybersecurity, and compliance functions now play a bigger role in helping organizations earn and maintain stakeholder trust.
“The challenge before us is not just keeping pace with technology—it is making sure progress strengthens the way we work together. This summit is a pause from the daily firefight, a chance to sharpen our tools and align our perspectives. By combining the ability of our internal teams in AGCC with the insights of our line organizations, we create a space for calibration,” she said.
Through the summit, Meralco aims to reinforce its commitment to secure digital transformation, operational excellence, and proactive risk management. Company leaders said building strong cybersecurity defenses and ensuring compliance with evolving regulations are critical to protecting customers, stakeholders, and business operations in an increasingly connected world.
The power distributor recently gathered industry leaders, government agencies, private sector partners, and advocacy groups for its first-ever Audit, Governance, Cybersecurity, and Compliance (AGCC) Summit 2026, highlighting the growing importance of trust and resilience in the digital age.
Held on May 15 at Meralco’s headquarters in Ortigas, Pasig City, the summit carried the theme “Next Generation Assurance: Driving Confident Decisions in a Digital Future.” More than 1,000 participants attended the event both onsite and online, representing organizations from One Meralco, the JG Summit Group, the MVP Group, and professional associations focused on audit, governance, and information security.
The event featured discussions from experts and government officials who shared insights on emerging cyber threats, data privacy challenges, and the role of governance in maintaining public trust.
Among the speakers was National Privacy Commission Deputy Commissioner Juan Paolo Fajardo, who emphasized the importance of data privacy in building confidence among stakeholders.
“Trust is the most valuable currency in the digital age and unlike financial capital it cannot be borrowed, it cannot be manufactured, it cannot be recovered quickly once it is lost. The true measure of progress is whether systems are worth trust,” Fajardo said.
Officials from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) also participated in the summit, discussing issues ranging from misinformation and digital fraud to improving governance and ease of doing business in an increasingly digital landscape.
Cybersecurity expert Robert Dang of InfoTech Research Group tackled the growing risks posed by artificial intelligence-driven threats, explaining how organizations can strengthen defenses as cyberattacks become more sophisticated.
Meralco Senior Vice President and Chief Audit Executive Melanie T. Oteyza said audit, governance, cybersecurity, and compliance functions now play a bigger role in helping organizations earn and maintain stakeholder trust.
“The challenge before us is not just keeping pace with technology—it is making sure progress strengthens the way we work together. This summit is a pause from the daily firefight, a chance to sharpen our tools and align our perspectives. By combining the ability of our internal teams in AGCC with the insights of our line organizations, we create a space for calibration,” she said.
Through the summit, Meralco aims to reinforce its commitment to secure digital transformation, operational excellence, and proactive risk management. Company leaders said building strong cybersecurity defenses and ensuring compliance with evolving regulations are critical to protecting customers, stakeholders, and business operations in an increasingly connected world.
Jun 5, 2026
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