MGEN’s courtesy visit to Quezon Province Governor Helen Tan underscored plans to hire locally, upskill Quezon residents, and drive long-term economic benefits
Pasig City, Philippines — 07 August 2025 — Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN) has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive and sustainable development for its investments in the Province of Quezon during a recent meeting with Quezon Governor Helen Tan.
The courtesy visit highlighted MGEN’s intention to start the construction of the Atimonan Energy power plant which will prioritize the hiring of workers within the province, conduct skills training, and collaborate closely with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to ensure that the local residents of Quezon—particularly from Atimonan and nearby municipalities—are prepared for job opportunities linked to the project.
“We are not just building a power plant—we are helping build communities. We are committed to making sure the people of Quezon are the first to benefit from the opportunities this project will create. That means investing in their training, hiring locally, and working with government partners like TESDA to build lasting skills that go beyond construction,” said Lino Bernardo, Chief Operating Officer of MGEN’s thermal arm.
Quezon Province Governor Helen Tan has instructed MGEN to ensure inclusive economic development, noting the significance of the project in uplifting the local labor force and contributing to regional growth.
MGEN has an existing partnership with TESDA for its other project sites, specifically the MTerra Solar Project in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan where MGEN has rolled out targeted training programs that align with the technical requirements of what is hailed as the biggest solar PV and energy storage system in the world. This initiative is part of MGEN’s broader effort to ensure that its power projects deliver not only reliable and affordable electricity, but also tangible socioeconomic benefits to its host communities.
The 1200 MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired Atimonan Energy power plant is expected to generate as many as 6,000 jobs during the construction phase and around 300 long-term roles once the plant begins its operations. The said plant will be constructed using High Efficiency, Low Emission (HELE) technology that utilizes high temperatures and pressures to maximize energy production while minimizing fuel consumption. This is one of the latest technologies in the world that is critical in achieving lower carbon emissions from thermal plants. These thermal plants provide enhanced plant efficiency and have been used worldwide, particularly in Asian countries such as South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, and China.
Once completed, the thermal plant will ensure sufficient supply of reliable and affordable baseload energy for the Philippines. It will generate enough power supply to cater to at least 5.0 million households (based on an average monthly consumption of 150 kWh) or the equivalent energy needs of approximately 1,000 hospitals. The new power source will account for approximately 7% of Luzon’s total energy demand, playing a crucial role in bolstering the country’s energy security, lowering the electricity cost by approximately ₱12 billion annually, and ensuring a reliable power supply for the future.
Moreover, the Atimonan Energy power plant is set to deliver significant benefits to the local community with an estimated annual economic contribution exceeding ₱1 billion. This includes revenue from real property taxes and funding for various community development initiatives.
