Bigger Dreams, Brighter Future: One Meralco Foundation Spreads Light  to More Filipino Communities

MANILA, Philippines — For years, families in remote communities lived with only a few hours of electricity each day. Their routines revolved around limited power—until stable electricity finally reached their homes, paving the way for brighter classrooms, safer communities, thriving small businesses, and new livelihood opportunities.

This transformation is what continues to inspire Manuel V. Pangilinan-led One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Manila Electric Company (Meralco), to continue delivering electrification programs while strengthening environmental sustainability, community engagement, and disaster response initiatives.

“In One Meralco Foundation, we carry a mission to create pathways for growth through electrification, environmental stewardship, and community empowerment. By bringing light to the furthest reaches of our islands and supporting the development of underprivileged communities, we are honoring a promise to leave no one behind,” One Meralco Foundation President and Meralco Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer Jeffrey O. Tarayao said.

Powering homes and schools

In the first quarter of 2026 alone, OMF energized homes, schools, and livelihood facilities, benefiting more than 3,600 individuals. Through the Household Electrification Program, Meralco and OMF connected more than 400 low-income households to safe and legal electricity service. Community launches were held in Barangay Pugad in Hagonoy, Bulacan—an island community—and Barangay Bulilan Norte in Pila, Laguna. Since 2011, OMF through its Household Electrification Program has energized more than 85,000 low-income households within the Meralco franchise area.

Beyond households, OMF also enables schools to create safer, more conducive learning environments while supporting technology-enabled education with the help of solar energy through its School Electrification Program.

OMF energized Karahumi Elementary School in Norzagaray, Bulacan with a three?kilowatt solar photovoltaic system, giving more than a hundred students, teachers, and staff access to a stable, sustainable power source that supports daily lessons and enhances the delivery of education.

To further enrich learning, the Foundation also donated laptops, televisions, and printers to Mangcawayan Island Integrated School and Eugenia M. Quintela Memorial High School in Vinzons, Camarines Norte. 

The initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize electricity and internet connectivity in schools, especially those in remote and disadvantaged areas. To date, OMF’s School Electrification Program has powered more than 300 public schools nationwide, improving the learning environment for over 95,000 students, teachers, and personnel.

Powering livelihood and healthcare

OMF’s Agriculture and Livelihood Electrification Program shows how clean energy drives economic empowerment. In Valenzuela City, a solar-powered charging station now supports 117 e-trike drivers, lowering costs and generating shared income for the community. Farmers in Nueva Ecija likewise benefit from solar irrigation systems, reducing fuel expenses, boosting crop yields, and strengthening household incomes.

Reliable electricity also transforms healthcare. In Negros Occidental, OMF installed a solar system at Don Salvador Benedicto’s rural health station to improve access to reliable, lifesaving, and life-enhancing healthcare services for 2,500 residents. With stable power, health workers can refrigerate vaccines, preserve specimens, and extend consultations. The energized facility also hosts preventive health sessions on maternal care, nutrition, sanitation, and immunization, helping residents make informed health decisions.

By powering livelihoods and healthcare, OMF enables communities to thrive with stronger enterprises, healthier families, and a more resilient future.

Environmental stewardship, grassroot partnerships

Beyond energization programs, OMF continues to invest in environmental stewardship and grassroot partnerships as a foundation for stronger communities.

In Aklan, the Foundation partnered with Aklan State University and the local government to restore abandoned fishponds into thriving mangrove forests, planting 50,000 trees that protect coastlines, sustain fisheries, and provide alternative livelihoods. This initiative forms part of OMF’s One for Trees program, which since 2019 has planted over 3 million trees across 36 sites nationwide, directly supporting nearly 2,500 tree farmers.

OMF also strengthens grassroots partnerships through 36 community projects within the Meralco franchise area in the first quarter of 2026. These included computer donations to Barangay Poblacion in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, as well as to offices of the Philippine National Police, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and the Bureau of Fire Protection to help enhance the delivery of public services.

Further, the Foundation distributed vitamins to health units across Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna. Meanwhile, under Meralco PowerGen Thermal's Adopt-a-Health-Center Program, the foundation provided medicines and medical supplies to 33 health centers in Toledo City, Cebu; Iloilo City and the Province of Iloilo; and the municipalities of Nabas and New Washington in Aklan.

To help ensure a safer environment for vulnerable sectors, OMF replaced aging leaning private poles inside the Manila Boystown Complex in Marikina City with new ones, improving safety for the institution's staff and the children under its care. OMF likewise extended assistance to underserved communities by donating solar lamps and torches to 100 beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, and distributing hygiene kits and food packs to Aeta communities in Capas, Tarlac.

Through these initiatives, OMF continues to create meaningful partnerships and deliver programs that empower communities, improve lives, and contribute to nation-building.

Disaster response

As communities face the growing challenges of natural disasters and emergencies, OMF does not only respond to crises but also help affected Filipinos recover and rebuild their lives. Working hand in hand with partners from the public and private sectors, the Foundation continues to provide timely assistance to communities both within and beyond the Meralco franchise area.

Throughout the first quarter of 2026, OMF remained responsive to communities affected by emergencies, extending assistance to thousands of families displaced by fire incidents in Quezon City, the City of Manila, General Trias, Cavite, and San Pedro City, Laguna. Relief packs and solar lamps provided much-needed support as families began the difficult journey toward recovery.

When Tropical Storm Basyang brought heavy rains and flooding to hundreds of families in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte in February 2026, OMF worked with the local government and promptly deployed relief packs to affected residents, ensuring that immediate needs were addressed during the crisis.

OMF’s initiatives reflect its unwavering commitment to nation-building through impactful and inclusive programs that respond to urgent community needs while helping build long-term resilience. Guided by a shared spirit of service, the foundation continues to empower communities, strengthen partnerships, and help build a brighter, more resilient future for all—leaving no one behind.

Editor’s Note: This branded content/press release for Meralco is not covered by Philstar.com's editorial guidelines.