Key executives from One Meralco, Seochang Electric Communication Co. Ltd, and Gawad Kalinga held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil a newly constructed sustainable power service facility in Trece Martires City, Cavite. Seen in photo (L-R) are Meralco SVP and CRO Ferdinand O. Geluz, Korea Testing Laboratory Director General Song Sang-Hoon, Seochang President and CEO Alika Yoon, MIESCOR President and CEO Richard O. Ochava, Gawad Kalinga Executive Director Dan Bercasio, Meralco EVP and CEO Ronnie L. Aperocho, Meralco FVP and Chief Sustainability Officer Raymond B. Ravelo, and Meralco VP and Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer Jeffrey O. Tarayao.

Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corporation (MIESCOR), a subsidiary of Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco), and South Korea-based Seochang Electric Communication Co. Ltd. have energized an on-grid hybrid power service for around 200 households in a Gawad Kalinga community in Cavite province.

The recently inaugurated project features a 50-kilowatt peak solar photovoltaic (PV) system, a 300-kilowatt-hour energy storage system (ESS), and three electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

Located in Barangay Hugo Perez in Trece Martires City, the project will power the community’s facilities such as streetlights, multi-purpose hall, and development center. It will also serve as an energy source for electric cars, e-jeepneys and e-bikes. The project has adopted a sustainable energy network by utilizing and optimizing used EV batteries which are suitable for local electric distribution facilities, while determining ways to provide clean and reliable electricity service to communities.

Seochang President and CEO Alika Yoon shared the benefits of the project to the community and expressed willingness to do similar projects with MIESCOR. “We are happy to bring the sustainable ESS solution to this community. Today we celebrate the completion of this project but for us, it is a new beginning of the ESS industry in the Philippines,” she said during the inauguration.

Seochang is a company based in Daegu, South Korea, specializing in Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and the construction of various ESS. It has been supplying watt-hour meters to Meralco for over 10 years.

Also supporting the implementation of this project are other South Korean entities namely PMGROW Corp., Korea Testing Laboratory, and Korea Energy Convergence Association.

MIESCOR President and CEO Richard O. Ochava, meanwhile, said that the “one-of-a-kind facility creatively promotes the sustainable use of power to bring light to our communities.”

MIESCOR, which engages in engineering, procurement, and construction services, constructed the newly energized 500-sq.m. facility.

For Meralco, the undertaking with Seochang is well aligned with Meralco’s Sustainability Agenda, which is anchored on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Meralco First VP and Chief Sustainability Officer Raymond B. Ravelo said the project is a convergence of innovation and sustainability, with solar panels, energy storage systems, and EV charging stations integrated into one facility.

“Our partnership with Seochang is instrumental in bringing to life this sustainable power service system. This breakthrough project captures and supports all aspects of Meralco’s sustainability agenda,” Ravelo said.

Beyond sustainability, Meralco is also committed to capitalize on innovative solutions in its efforts to build a sustainable energy network and empower Philippine communities.

“The fruition of this project signifies our commitment to continuously partner with organizations of like minds to undertake initiatives that utilize new technologies in creating sustainable solutions to the energy needs of the communities we serve,” said Meralco SVP and CRO Ferdinand O. Geluz.

“Along with our efforts to boost our network capabilities and continuously improve customer services, projects like this are integral part of Meralco’s relentless pursuit to create transformative and lasting impact to communities within and beyond our service area,” Meralco EVP and COO Ronnie L. Aperocho concluded.


The recently inaugurated on-grid hybrid power service in Trece Martires, Cavite City features a 50-kilowatt peak
solar PV system, a 300-kilowatt-hour ESS, and three EV charging stations.