MANILA, PHILIPPINES, 07 OCTOBER 2026—Manuel V.Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has reinforced its commitment to developing future-ready professionals through a new partnership with Banahaw Technological College, Inc. (BTCI) under the distribution utility’s Talent Farm Program.
During the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of agreement on September 28, Meralco pledged continuing efforts to bridge education and industry, ensuring that students gain firsthand appreciation of the work, technologies, and career opportunities available in the energy sector.
“With this partnership, we aim to help the students of BTCI become immediately employable. Meralco is here to support students achieve their career goals and we hope that this is a successful pilot because we want to replicate this nationwide,” Meralco First Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Hans R. Montenegro said.
The Meralco Talent Farm Program is a strategic initiative designed to cultivate a sustainable pipeline of future technical talent. Under the program, BTCI students will gain industry exposure, structured practicum experiences, mentorship, and career opportunities aligned with Meralco’s technical workforce requirements.
For his part, BTCI President and Chief Executive Officer Engr. Tommy Joseph R. Abustan emphasized how the partnership with Meralco paves the way for students to achieve professional growth and development.
“There is a future here in Meralco because there is career growth and development. This partnership is a big opportunity for our students and our school,” Engr. Abustan said.
Based in Lucban, Quezon, BTCI is an institution accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority that offers programs highly relevant to Meralco’s operations, including Electrical Technology, Electric Installation and Maintenance, and Mechatronics. With over 600 students, the school has been identified as a strong source of job-ready technical talent due to its competency-based training model and industry-focused approach.
“We hope that through this partnership, students gain practical industry knowledge. Our Meralco engineers are ready to mentor and guide them, while providing meaningful industry exposure that they can use for their professional development,” Meralco Senior Vice President and Head of Networks Engr. Froilan J. Savet said.
