BATANGAS, Philippines — With the Philippines’ peak electricity demand projected to more than quadruple by 2050, the country’s energy sector faces a growing challenge: developing the infrastructure, technologies, and engineering expertise needed to meet future power requirements.
The Department of Energy’s Power Development Plan 2023–2050 projects peak demand to rise from 16,596 megawatts (MW) in 2022 to 68,483 MW by 2050, underscoring the scale of the country’s long-term energy requirements.
Meeting this demand will require not only expanded power infrastructure but also continuous technical upskilling, industry-responsive research, and closer collaboration between engineering institutions and energy companies.
Responding to these evolving industry requirements, Batangas State University, The National Engineering University (BatStateU The NEU), and AboitizPower’s Transition Business Group (AP-TBG), through Therma Luzon Inc., signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 16, 2026, to pursue collaborative initiatives in engineering upskilling, immersive technical training, applied research, and professional development.
AP-TBG manages and operates the company’s thermal power-generation assets, contributing to reliable electricity supply as the Philippine energy sector evolves. Through its technical training initiatives, including the Global Technical Center of Excellence (GTCOE), AboitizPower also supports workforce development and knowledge exchange across the energy industry.
The signing, held at the GTCOE, LIMA Tower 1, Lipa-Malvar, Batangas, established a framework for cooperation between BatStateU’s engineering education and research capabilities and the technical training expertise of AP-TBG.
Under the agreement, the institutions will explore the co-development of augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) training modules and micro-credential programs for technical upskilling. These initiatives could provide opportunities to strengthen specialized competencies through simulation-based learning and shorter, targeted professional development programs.
The MoU also covers joint research initiatives in energy and power systems, support for the Visiting Faculty Program, and other mutually agreed academic and research activities, allowing engineering expertise and industry experience to inform future training and research collaborations.
The agreement was signed by BatStateU President Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo and Engr. Mayshelle Flores-Rosario, Technical Academy Director, in the presence of officials and representatives from both institutions.
Also in attendance were BatStateU Alangilan Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Dr. Myrna A. Coliat and Vice Chancellor for Development and External Affairs Assoc. Prof. Alex I. Magboo. From AboitizPower were Distribution Utilities President and Chief Operating Officer Mr. Aldo Ramos; Assistant Vice President for Talent Optimization, Culture Engagement, and Change Management Ms. Bench Bautista; GTCOE Senior Manager Engr. Aurelio Uapal Jr.; Talent Attraction Manager Ms. Melissa Dizon; Technical Academy Manager Engr. Aldren Ribalde, and Strategic Partnerships Lead Engr. Carmelin Gaerlan.
In her welcome remarks, Engr. Zimonette Soriao, Chief Asset Management Officer of AP-TBG, emphasized that strengthening the energy sector requires not only reliable power generation but also investment in people through industry–academe collaboration. She highlighted the MoU’s areas of cooperation as foundations for translating shared goals into concrete programs.
Engr. Mayshelle Flores-Rosario highlighted the GTCOE as a platform for technical training, competency development, and knowledge exchange, emphasizing the importance of aligning industry expertise with engineering education to prepare professionals for the evolving needs of the energy sector.
“These are not merely provisions in our Memorandum of Understanding. They represent opportunities to translate academic knowledge into practical applications, research into solutions, and learning into measurable workforce capabilities,” she said.
For BatStateU, the partnership advances its mandate as the Philippines’ National Engineering University by bringing engineering education and research closer to the needs of industry, while extending opportunities for technical learning beyond conventional academic programs.
BatStateU President Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo underscored that the University’s responsibility extends beyond preparing future engineers to include strengthening the competencies of professionals already serving the industry. He emphasized the importance of bringing engineering education closer to actual industrial environments through sustained academe–industry collaboration, specialized training, and lifelong learning.
“Our work does not end when engineering students graduate or when they enter the workforce. It must continue throughout their professional lives through opportunities for upskilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning,” he said.
The agreement builds on BatStateU’s continuing efforts to strengthen collaboration between academe and industry. Through BatStateU LIMA, the country’s first industry-based learning campus, the University has advanced an educational model in which industry partners contribute to curriculum development, technical mentoring, and workplace-linked learning.
This new partnership extends opportunities for industry-academe cooperation into energy and power systems, where evolving technologies and operational requirements call for continuous technical training, applied research, and specialized engineering expertise.
In his closing remarks, Engr. Albertson D. Amante, Vice President for Research, Development, and Extension Services and BatStateU LIMA Campus Director, reaffirmed the importance of translating the partnership into concrete initiatives that strengthen technical competencies, foster engineering innovation, and respond to the evolving needs of the energy sector.
While specific programs and research activities remain subject to further development under the agreement, the partnership establishes a foundation for sustained collaboration in technical upskilling, applied research, and engineering innovation, contributing to the development of a more capable and resilient Philippine energy sector.
