The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has deployed more scholars through its Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program.
FISSION is an initiative aimed at cultivating Filipino expertise in the specialized field of nuclear engineering. There are seven engineers currently employed by Meralco and its power generation arm, Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen) that are participating in the program-Rachelle Gesmundo-Varias, Regino Hibaler, Eljhon Capili, Keith Danae Suquib, Dennmarc Marcaida, Eljan Javellana and Raymund Grant Pagulong.
Capili and Suquib recently departed to study Master in Nuclear Engineering at Université Paris-Saclay in France, while Gesmundo-Varias and Hibaler already started Master of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering in Ontario Tech University in Canada. The remaining three scholars, Marcaida, Javellana and Pagulong, are heading to KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School in South Korea in the first quarter of 2026.
Similar to the pilot batch which involves five scholars who started their degrees in 2024 in University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States and Harbin Engineering University in China, the engineers will be sent to nuclear technology firms for their internship before returning to the Philippines to practice their degrees.
Through the FISSION program, Meralco Power Academy (MPA) intends to build a pool of highly skilled Filipino professionals who will play a key role in the country’s future nuclear energy development.
MPA has partnered with globally recognized academic institutions to allow scholars to gain access to cutting-edge nuclear laboratories, participate in research on small and micro modular reactors, and undergo internships with leading nuclear technology companies.
This aligns with Meralco’s broader Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition (NEST) program, the company’s flagship initiative to incorporate nuclear power into the Philippine energy mix as a long-term, low-carbon energy solution.
‘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,’ Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho said.