The Manila Electric Company (Meralco), led by Manuel V. Pangilinan, has expanded its Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program, deploying additional scholars overseas to pursue advanced studies in nuclear engineering—a key step toward developing local expertise in the emerging energy field.
Seven engineers from Meralco and its power generation subsidiary, Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGen), comprise the latest batch of scholars: Rachelle Gesmundo-Varias, Regino Hibaler, Eljhon Capili, Keith Danae Suquib, Dennmarc Marcaida, Eljan Javellana, and Raymund Grant Pagulong.
Capili and Suquib recently departed for Université Paris-Saclay in France to pursue a Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, while Gesmundo-Varias and Hibaler have commenced their Master of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering programs at Ontario Tech University in Canada. Marcaida, Javellana, and Pagulong are set to begin their studies at the KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School in South Korea by the first quarter of 2026.
This expansion builds on the success of the pilot batch launched in 2024, comprising five scholars currently pursuing degrees at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States and Harbin Engineering University in China. Similar to their predecessors, the new scholars will undergo internships at nuclear technology firms abroad before returning to the Philippines to apply their expertise.
Implemented through the Meralco Power Academy (MPA), the FISSION program aims to cultivate a pool of highly skilled Filipino professionals who can play a pivotal role in the country’s future nuclear energy initiatives. MPA has partnered with globally recognized universities to provide scholars with access to state-of-the-art nuclear laboratories, research opportunities in small and micro modular reactor technologies, and hands-on industry training.
The program supports Meralco’s broader Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition (NEST) initiative, which seeks to integrate nuclear power into the Philippine energy mix as a sustainable, 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 for the country’s transition to nuclear power. This initiative reflects Meralco’s commitment to developing a future-ready energy workforce and advancing safe, secure, and sustainable nuclear energy for the Philippines,” said Ronnie L. Aperocho, Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.|
