In a powerful address at the United Professional Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (UPEEP) Annual Convention, Engr. Ronnie Aperocho, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Meralco, issued a compelling call to his peers, urging a steadfast commitment to professionalism and integrity while outlining a transformative vision for the country’s energy future.Speaking on November 22, 2025, Aperocho framed his “Inspirational Speech” as a critical reminder of the electrical engineer’s oath at a time when massive corruption scandals, particularly “ghost projects” in other government sectors, have shaken public trust.A Profession Without Room for GhostsAperocho began by drawing a stark contrast, stating that while ghost projects plague other fields, they are impossible in electrical engineering. “In our work, we can never go wrong,” he asserted. He explained that failures—such as under-designing systems or failing to build critical infrastructure—result in immediate and catastrophic consequences like blackouts, overloads, and short circuits.”This issue is a major blow to the civil engineering profession,” Aperocho said, referencing recent scandals, before turning the focus inward. “I am not here to judge other people or other profession as we electrical engineers are also confronted with integrity issues, but I think that it’s high time for all of us to be reminded of our oath of PROFESSIONALISM.”Meralco’s Pivotal 25-Year RoadmapBolstered by the recent renewal of Meralco’s franchise for another 25 years, Aperocho detailed the utility’s aggressive investment and modernization strategy, built on four key pillars:
1. Grid Modernization and Resilience: Aperocho announced heavy investments in smarter, stronger infrastructure, emphasizing that “resilience and business continuity management is the name of the game.” This includes hardened substations, microgrids for critical facilities, and adaptive restoration plans to withstand increasingly violent storms. He singled out Cybersecurity as a top priority, calling it a duty to the public and admitting, “This keeps me awake at night.”
2. Elevating Customer Experience: Meralco is rolling out significant digital upgrades, including an aggressive push for an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (smart metering) to handle the exponential rise of rooftop solar and empower customers.
3. Technology and Innovation: The company is pursuing full digitalization of its grid and enterprise, leveraging AI, IoT sensors, and advanced distribution systems. Aperocho also highlighted the need to prepare for the Electric Vehicle (EV) revolution, including building numerous charging stations and managing their impact on the local grid.
4. Accelerating the Clean Energy Transition: Declaring that “energy transition is no longer theoretical—it is happening now,” Aperocho revealed Meralco is spending at least ₱300 Billion over the next five years.
He highlighted the Terra Solar Project, the world’s largest solar-plus-battery project, which is 70% complete and expected to begin energization by February 2026.
On nuclear power, he confirmed the company secured a $2.7M U.S. grant to study Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and has sent 12 scholars abroad for nuclear engineering studies.
A Three-Part Call to ActionAperocho challenged the engineering community to focus on three areas aligned with UPEEP’s mission:· Workforce Development: Continuous training in new technologies for young engineers and reskilling for senior engineers.·
Ethics and Public Accountability: Insisting on transparency, code compliance, and calling out dangerous shortcuts. “We must call out shortcuts that risk lives, regardless of whose interests they serve,” he stated.·
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: “Collaboration accelerates solutions; isolation breeds blind spots,” he said, urging engineers to work with other fields.Personal Journey and a “Golden Age” for the ProfessionIn a heartfelt moment, Aperocho shared his personal struggle with the course, admitting he once thought choosing EE was his “most stupid mistake.” He persevered through difficulty and now dedicates his life to a profession that In a powerful address at the United Professional Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (UPEEP) Annual Convention, Engr. Ronnie Aperocho, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Meralco, issued a compelling call to his peers, urging a steadfast commitment to professionalism and integrity while outlining a transformative vision for the country’s energy future.
Speaking on November 22, 2025, Aperocho framed his “Inspirational Speech” as a critical reminder of the electrical engineer’s oath at a time when massive corruption scandals, particularly “ghost projects” in other government sectors, have shaken public trust.
A Profession Without Room for Ghosts
Aperocho began by drawing a stark contrast, stating that while ghost projects plague other fields, they are impossible in electrical engineering. “In our work, we can never go wrong,” he asserted. He explained that failures—such as under-designing systems or failing to build critical infrastructure—result in immediate and catastrophic consequences like blackouts, overloads, and short circuits.
“This issue is a major blow to the civil engineering profession,” Aperocho said, referencing recent scandals, before turning the focus inward. “I am not here to judge other people or other profession as we electrical engineers are also confronted with integrity issues, but I think that it’s high time for all of us to be reminded of our oath of PROFESSIONALISM.”
Meralco’s Pivotal 25-Year Roadmap
Bolstered by the recent renewal of Meralco’s franchise for another 25 years, Aperocho detailed the utility’s aggressive investment and modernization strategy, built on four key pillars:
1. Grid Modernization and Resilience: Aperocho announced heavy investments in smarter, stronger infrastructure, emphasizing that “resilience and business continuity management is the name of the game.” This includes hardened substations, microgrids for critical facilities, and adaptive restoration plans to withstand increasingly violent storms. He singled out Cybersecurity as a top priority, calling it a duty to the public and admitting, “This keeps me awake at night.”
2. Elevating Customer Experience: Meralco is rolling out significant digital upgrades, including an aggressive push for an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (smart metering) to handle the exponential rise of rooftop solar and empower customers.
3. Technology and Innovation: The company is pursuing full digitalization of its grid and enterprise, leveraging AI, IoT sensors, and advanced distribution systems. Aperocho also highlighted the need to prepare for the Electric Vehicle (EV) revolution, including building numerous charging stations and managing their impact on the local grid.
4. Accelerating the Clean Energy Transition: Declaring that “energy transition is no longer theoretical—it is happening now,” Aperocho revealed Meralco is spending at least ₱300 Billion over the next five years. He highlighted the Terra Solar Project, the world’s largest solar-plus-battery project, which is 70% complete and expected to begin energization by February 2026. On nuclear power, he confirmed the company secured a $2.7M U.S. grant to study Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and has sent 12 scholars abroad for nuclear engineering studies.
A Three-Part Call to Action
Aperocho challenged the engineering community to focus on three areas aligned with UPEEP’s mission:
· Workforce Development: Continuous training in new technologies for young engineers and reskilling for senior engineers.
· Ethics and Public Accountability: Insisting on transparency, code compliance, and calling out dangerous shortcuts. “We must call out shortcuts that risk lives, regardless of whose interests they serve,” he stated.
· Interdisciplinary Collaboration: “Collaboration accelerates solutions; isolation breeds blind spots,” he said, urging engineers to work with other fields.
Personal Journey and a “Golden Age” for the Profession
In a heartfelt moment, Aperocho shared his personal struggle with the course, admitting he once thought choosing EE was his “most stupid mistake.” He persevered through difficulty and now dedicates his life to a profession that “transformed me, gave me and my family a better life.”
He concluded with a rousing defense of the profession, titled “Why Electrical Engineering Stands Above the Rest.” He argued that electrical engineers are the “unseen force” behind modern society and are now at the center of every global transformation—from clean energy and smart grids to AI and electric mobility.
“We should all be proud as electrical engineers because Electrical Engineering isn’t just a degree — it is the backbone of the future,” Aperocho declared. “We are the backbone of the future because we power the future. This is actually the golden age of our profession.”
The speech ended with a reaffirmation of Meralco’s partnership with UPEEP through the Meralco Power Academy to advance benchmarking, training, and membership excellence.He concluded with a rousing defense of the profession, titled “Why Electrical Engineering Stands Above the Rest.” He argued that electrical engineers are the “unseen force” behind modern society and are now at the center of every global transformation—from clean energy and smart grids to AI and electric mobility. “We should all be proud as electrical engineers because Electrical Engineering isn’t just a degree — it is the backbone of the future,” Aperocho declared. “We are the backbone of the future because we power the future. This is actually the golden age of our profession.” The speech ended with a reaffirmation of Meralco’s partnership with UPEEP through the Meralco Power Academy to advance benchmarking, training, and membership excellence.#
