INNOVATION HUB. The Meralco PowerGen Corp.’s Center for Innovation inside the Panay Energy Development Corp. facility in Iloilo City as photographed on Wednesday (Oct. 8, 2025). MGEN opened the innovation hub to cater not only to its employees but also to communities and the youth. (Photo courtesy of MGEN)
MANILA – A learning and research hub that aims to empower communities and help encourage the youth to join the energy sector was opened in Iloilo City on Wednesday by the Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN), in coordination with the Meralco Power Academy (MPA).
The center, the first MPA facility outside Meralco’s franchise area, is located within the Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC) facility.
MGEN, in a press release, said the center highlights the company’s “commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable development through continuous learning and skills development.”
“Formerly known as the GBP Institute for Energy, this facility has been reimagined and revitalized to meet the evolving needs of our industry and our communities. Now, MCI will serve a wider audience and aim to become a leading hub for energy education, research, and innovation – the first of many Centers for Innovation we plan to establish across our sites in the Philippines,” MGEN president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Rubio said.
MGEN said the facility previously served as a training center for its employees.
“Through this facility, MGEN and MPA aim to strengthen regional capabilities in energy innovation, foster technical excellence, and inspire the next generation of energy talents,” it said.
During the center’s launch, MCI hosted the Young Engineers and Scientists Summit (YESS), which was attended by students of Angelicum School, Leganes National High School, and Philippine Science High School – Iloilo.
MGEN, in response to queries from the Philippine News Agency, said more centers of innovation will be opened nationwide in the coming months, one of which will be located in its MTerra Solar project in Nueva Ecija.
The groundbreaking of the project, to date the world’s largest integrated solar and battery storage facility, was done on Nov. 21, 2024, and was attended by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PNA)
