ESPRESSO MORNINGS

By Joe Zaldarriaga

Mr. Joe Zaldarriaga, fondly called “Manong Joe”, is a distinguished figure in the country’s corporate communications landscape. Holding the position of Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications at Manila Electric Company (Meralco), he has orchestrated unparalleled success for the utility company, winning accolades for their brand of service communications.
He was the architect behind Meralco’s most celebrated milestones in the field of communications— steering the company to five-time Company of the Year honors at the Philippine Quill Awards and leading the only PR team ever named Team of the Year in the history of the Anvil Awards.
Manong Joe’s leadership also extends as a respected member of the Board of Trustees for the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), concurrent with his role as Chairman of the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines (IABC Philippines) where he also served as its President.
Manong Joe is a distinguished awardee of the medallion of honor and scroll of commendation from the University of Manila, owing to his years in public service as a communications professional. He shares his insights through columns in renowned publications, including The Philippine Star’s The Z Factor, and Philippine News Agency’s ESPRESSO MORNINGS.

In many parts of the Philippines, stable and reliable electricity service remains a luxury, hampering growth and local development and slowing national progress. Too often, development conversations revolve around digital innovations and technological advancements. Yet, reliable electricity remains the often-overlooked catalyst of growth.

What many don’t often realize is that the quality of electricity service directly shapes productivity, competitiveness, and overall quality of life of communities.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last month emphasized the importance of making electricity “accessible, affordable, and reliable” for Filipinos as part of the country’s national energy agenda and in line with efforts to promote national development.

“This administration will continue to work hand in hand with the private sector in crafting processes and policies that make electricity accessible, affordable, and reliable,” Marcos said in a speech during his visit to Meralco.

He added: “Ito ay bahagi ng ating mas malawak na misyon – isang bansang may matatag na enerhiya, malinaw na direksyon, at inklusibong pag-unlad (This is part of our broader mission – a nation with stable energy, clear direction, and inclusive development).”

Truly, electricity remains one of the most persistent yet underappreciated barriers to growth, and this reality was recently put under the spotlight during a hearing of local officials in Batangas province on the frequent power outages in areas serviced by Batangas Electric Cooperative II (BATELEC II).

During the hearing, local officials raised questions about BATELEC II’s long-term capacity and quality of service. The inquiry stemmed from a resolution filed by the Batangas Forum for Good Governance and Development Association, Inc., urging the provincial government to support a proposed joint venture between Meralco and BATELEC II.

Forum president Nelson Terrible cited repeated power outages, which he claimed have caused economic losses for businesses and disrupted daily life for residents.

Meralco submitted its joint venture proposal to BATELEC II three years ago with the aim of modernizing and upgrading the cooperative’s distribution system to significantly improve electricity service quality and reliability in Batangas province.

Meralco Senior Vice President and Head of Strategic DU Partnerships, lawyer Arnel Casanova emphasized that the company wants to empower BATELEC II for better electricity service in Batangas.

“We in Meralco believe in the potential of Batangas as an economic driver of the Philippine economy,” Casanova said. “We want to help BATELEC II because, as a non-stock, non-profit cooperative, it cannot keep up with the capital requirements and the technology that is required to service the industrial and increasing consumer demand. Our proposal is actually to empower, not to take over BATELEC II.”

Too often, the cost of unreliable power is invisible on paper yet deeply felt by industries and communities on the ground. When power outages happen too frequently, industries slow or halt operations, restaurants lose perishable inventory, hotels and hospitals rely on backup generators to ensure continuous service, and students struggle to study.

For small businesses, even brief power interruptions can result in significant losses or operational damage. For provinces like Batangas, which aim to strengthen their industrial and tourism sectors, a dependable power service is essential to support continuous and steady development.

This is where power companies with a track record of reliability make a difference. Meralco, as the largest distribution utility in the country, has consistently demonstrated its commitment to strengthening its distribution network and improving service quality.

In 2025, the company achieved its strongest reliability performance to date. The average number of power interruptions per customer, measured through the System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI), improved to 0.91 from 1.041 in 2024. Outage duration also shortened, with the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) dropping to 97.5 minutes from 108.21 minutes. Efficiency was likewise sustained, as Meralco’s full-year system loss stood at 5.85 percent—remaining below the indicative regulatory cap for the 18th consecutive year. Meralco said this performance translated to cumulative consumer savings of PHP6.5 billion—a testament to how power service reliability and efficiency deliver tangible benefits to households, businesses, and communities.

For electric cooperatives like BATELEC II, a partnership with a distribution utility like Meralco can significantly improve the quality of electricity service in Batangas and support growth ambitions, as it would see the latter pouring in more capital and technical expertise.

It will also serve as a blueprint for how utilities can work together to improve the quality of electricity service and create a positive ripple effect on community life.

Improving electricity service in the provinces is central to inclusive growth. Metro Manila cannot remain the country’s sole engine of economic expansion. Balanced regional development requires empowering provincial economies, and that begins with dependable infrastructure—one that companies like Meralco can help provide.