Meralco Opens Doors for PWD Students

Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is expanding its diversity and inclusion efforts by partnering with SHINE Special Education Center, Inc. (SHINE) to provide Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) with meaningful opportunities to gain workplace experience and develop employment-ready skills.

As an initial step in the partnership, three students with autism took part in a structured workplace immersion program at Meralco, where they gained hands-on experience in tasks including creative design and data encoding.

Beyond technical skills, the program gave the students an opportunity to experience a professional work environment, build confidence and independence, and contribute to actual workplace activities. Mentors and job coaches provided guidance throughout the immersion, helping the students adapt to the workplace, learn new skills, and navigate professional routines.

“Inclusion is not a one-time initiative—it is a journey we live every day. By opening our doors to Persons with Disabilities, we are not only creating opportunities but also reshaping the workplace to reflect empathy, respect, and dignity,” Meralco First Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Hans R. Montenegro said.

He added that the partnership with SHINE reflects Meralco’s commitment to creating safe and welcoming workplaces where everyone can belong.

For SHINE, the workplace immersion provides students with autism an opportunity to move beyond classroom-based learning and gain first-hand experience in a professional environment.

“For our students, this experience is more than just training—it is a chance to be seen, valued, and included. Meralco’s allyship shows how corporate partners can bridge education and employment readiness, giving young people with autism the confidence to step into the future with hope,” SHINE President Maria Rosario Joaquin said.

Meralco and SHINE plan to continue the partnership and create additional opportunities for students with disabilities to experience inclusive workplaces in the months ahead.

The initiative forms part of Meralco’s #Mbrace Diversity & Inclusion program, launched in 2021 initially to advance women’s empowerment and representation. The program has since expanded to include LGBTQIA+ colleagues and Persons with Disabilities, reflecting Meralco’s broader effort to foster a workplace where people, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or ability, are recognized and valued.

“#Mbrace stands as one of Meralco’s flagship people programs, deeply woven into our sustainability agenda, ‘Powering the Good Life’. By opening pathways for PWDs, we show that true sustainability is about creating workplaces where everyone can contribute and belong,” Meralco First Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Raymond B. Ravelo said.

Ravelo added that inclusion can strengthen the workforce, enrich workplace culture, and give individuals opportunities to contribute and thrive.

Meralco’s #Mbrace program is part of its broader “Powering the Good Life” sustainability agenda, anchored on four pillars: Power, Planet, People, and Prosperity. Through initiatives that integrate diversity and inclusion into its workplace culture and operations, the company continues to develop a workforce that is more inclusive, respectful, and prepared for the future.