Seven engineers from Meralco and its power generation arm, Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN), are now part of the expanded FISSION cohort. They are Rachelle Gesmundo-Varias, Regino Hibaler, Eljhon Capili, Keith Danae Suquib, Dennmarc Marcaida, Eljan Javellana, and Raymund Grant Pagulong.
Global training for Filipino engineers
Capili and Suquib recently left for France to pursue a Master in Nuclear Engineering at Université Paris-Saclay, while Gesmundo-Varias and Hibaler have started their Master of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering at Ontario Tech University in Canada. The remaining three scholars are scheduled to study at KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School in South Korea in early 2026.
They follow the first batch of five Meralco scholars who started their nuclear engineering programs in 2024 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Harbin Engineering University. After completing internships at global nuclear technology firms, all participants are expected to return to the Philippines to help advance the country’s nuclear energy capability.
Building a future-ready energy workforce
Through the FISSION program, the Meralco Power Academy (MPA) aims to cultivate a new generation of Filipino nuclear engineers who will drive the country’s entry into nuclear energy.
This effort aligns with Meralco’s Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition (NEST) program—its flagship initiative to integrate nuclear power into the Philippine energy mix as a sustainable, low-carbon energy source.
“Through the FISSION program, we are investing in the future of energy,” said Meralco EVP and COO Ronnie L. Aperocho, emphasizing the company’s commitment to building a “future-ready energy workforce” for the country’s nuclear future. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
