Powering Pampanga’s growth

A productive and very relevant discussion on accelerating growth in Central Luzon  took place last week, and I was privileged enough to be part of it together with stalwarts of the Kapampangan media community, notably the Capampangan in Media Inc. (CAMI).

As a member of this group, it was a great opportunity to exchange valuable insights especially since the topic was to spur greater economic opportunity beyond Metro Manila, particularly in Pampanga. As someone with roots in the province, my late mother being a Kapampangan, I believe it was not only timely but necessary.

The CAMI Media Forum, held in the Clark freeport zone in Pampanga, brought forward invaluable perspectives on driving growth in areas adjacent to Metro Manila. These insights are crucial as we strive to decentralize development and unlock the full potential of Central Luzon.

Former BCDA president Arnel Casanova,  reflected on the transformative projects in the region, including the development of Clark Global City and New Clark City. These initiatives are emerging as major economic hubs, attracting investments and driving growth in Central Luzon. Now serving as senior vice president and head of external and government affairs at Meralco, Arnel continues to champion regional development by advocating for reliable and high-quality electricity services to power progress.

Arnel highlighted a significant disparity in GDP per capita between Meralco-served areas and those served by other utilities. He noted that studies consistently link higher GDP per capita with increased power consumption and elevated power quality requirements. To sustain and accelerate growth, a reliable power provider is essential to meet these evolving demands.

Electricity is undeniably, a game-changer. The quality of service can either accelerate or slow down economic growth. It can attract investors, drive business expansion, and improve the quality of life for communities.

Uninterrupted power supply can help companies ensure continuous operations, sparing them of costly downtime. This, in turn, translates to more jobs for Kapampangans, improved living standards such as better medical services and overall progress in general.

Pampanga Electric Cooperative II (PELCO II), which has been co-managed by Meralco since 2014, has seen significant improvements in its service quality since Meralco stepped in to help.

During the CAMI Media Forum, Joe-Mel S. Zaporteza, chief management advisor of PELCO II, discussed how Meralco’s investments in the cooperative have led to tangible benefits for many Kapampangans – residents and industries alike – such as more stable and reliable electricity, and enhanced customer service among others.

Just recently, PELCO II acquired a new mobile substation to meet the growing power demand in Mabalacat City and other areas it services – proof of continuous economic growth in the area.

The electric cooperative is also set to energize a new 20-megavolt ampere (MVA) substation next year to support the expanding economic activity in the province. Meralco also promised to continue investing in PELCO II to further spur economic growth in Pampanga.

While regional economic development entails many factors, electricity is perhaps one of the most crucial. President Marcos himself testified to the importance of electricity service in his July State of the Nation Address – promising full household electrification by the end of his term.

According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), access to reliable electricity is a major driver of economic growth especially in emerging markets – such as many provinces in the Philippines.

It has been proven that areas with more stable power service tend to see better quality of life for communities, faster industry expansions, and greater investment inflows. A 2017 report released by the World Bank shows that regions that have stable power supply have an annual gross domestic product growth of 1.2 percent higher than those without.

This has prompted more localities to forge partnerships with Meralco to enhance their electricity services. With Meralco’s expertise, power infrastructure in provinces like Pampanga and beyond can be upgraded to deliver reliable and efficient service, fueling sustained growth.

Moreover, this highlights how reliable electricity service is a major enabler of progress.

Numbers speak for themselves. To accelerate national economic growth, we should boost development at the local and regional levels. Fueling economic growth at the grassroots level will lead to equitable and sustainable progress that is felt by all.

As the Philippines aims to be an upper middle-income country in the coming years, the role of stable and reliable electricity service has become indispensable not only in driving progress but also in improving the overall quality of life of Filipinos.