Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN) and VITRO REIT, Inc. (VITRO), a subsidiary of ePLDT within the PLDT Group, have formalized their strategic collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the joint feasibility study and development of a sustainable, power-enabled digital infrastructure proposition in the Philippines.The collaboration combines MGEN’s expertise in power generation and supply, including renewable energy, with VITRO’s capabilities in data center development, operations, connectivity, and engagement with hyperscalers and other prospective locators.
“This collaboration reflects the growing convergence between the energy and digital infrastructure sectors. Power is increasingly becoming a critical factor in where and how data centers are developed. By bringing together our respective capabilities, we can explore solutions on how reliable, cost-competitive, and sustainable power can be integrated into the development of digital infrastructure,” MGEN President and CEO Emmanuel V. Rubio shared.
Under the MOU, MGEN and VITRO will conduct joint technical and commercial studies to assess potential sites, power generation capacity, renewable energy resources, connectivity requirements, data center specifications, and commercial structures.
MGEN will identify potential sites for data center developments integrated with power generation facilities, as well as evaluate potential power supply arrangements. VITRO will lead data center design and site studies, connectivity planning, and engagement with prospective hyperscalers and other locators. The MOU provides a framework for the parties’ joint feasibility study and development of a sustainable, power-enabled digital infrastructure proposition in the Philippines.
VITRO REIT, Inc. President and CEO Victor S. Genuino said the collaboration provides an opportunity to create a more integrated proposition for prospective data center locators: “Improving the cost and reliability of power is one of the key objectives of this collaboration, as energy remains a decisive factor in attracting hyperscale and AI investments to the country. VITRO is committed to working closely with the energy sector to help secure ample, stable, sustainable, and affordable energy for the digital infrastructure that supports the Philippines' digital economy.”
The collaboration underscores the importance of integrating power and connectivity considerations into data center site selection as the Philippines aims to respond to the growing demand for digital and high-density computing infrastructure.
Manila, Philippines – The next disruption to a Filipino Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise’s (MSME) bottom line may not come from a slow sales day. It may come from five hours without power.
With recurring power alerts and weather-related disruptions continuing across the Philippines, staying operational is becoming a growing concern for MSMEs. During the rainy season, storms can trigger power interruptions, while El Niño-driven demand surges place additional strain on the power grid. According to the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, even when supply is officially adequate, thin reserve margins worsened by plant outages and spikes in demand continue to leave the grid vulnerable to alerts and rotating brownouts,
Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader with 190 years of innovation expertise, says the difference is not whether an outage hits. It is whether a business is ready when it does.
For a digitally run MSME, unstable power no longer just means lost lighting; even a brief flicker can pause a transaction mid-checkout, delay an order, or damage the equipment behind both. It is a cost often noticed only after revenue is already lost.
Business Continuity Becomes a Competitive Advantage
Schneider Electric sees that risk differently. "Disruptions are becoming more frequent, and digital operations are now central to how MSMEs run their business," said Harold Lim, Country Solutions Head, Schneider Electric Philippines. "That shift is changing how we think about resilience; it's no longer a contingency measure. It's becoming a competitive advantage."
Point-of-sale terminals, routers, computers, servers, CCTV systems, and communication devices now run the daily operations of a typical MSME. Losing power to any of them, even briefly, can interrupt a transaction, corrupt data, or damage the hardware outright.
Schneider Electric addresses that exposure with its APC Smart Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) On-Line, built for businesses running equipment that needs stable, reliable power.
Unlike standby units that only switch to battery once the power goes out, Smart-UPS On-Line keeps equipment running continuously, filtering out voltage dips and surges before they ever reach connected devices, even outside a full outage. This is made possible by double-conversion technology: incoming power is continuously converted and cleaned before it reaches connected devices, rather than being passed through directly and only corrected after a problem occurs.At full load, it provides around 4 to 6 minutes of battery backup — enough time for equipment to shut down safely or switch to another power source. This runtime gets longer as the load on connected devices decreases, guarding critical electronics and data against dangerous power conditions and disturbances. Multiple protected outlets mean several devices can stay covered at once.
Business owners can check battery and system status at a glance through an easy-to-read display. Available in either rack or tower design, it is well suited for point-of-sale terminals, computers, network equipment, servers, and other critical electronics that need protection during unexpected power disruptions.
“A UPS protects critical systems from outages and other power abnormalities that can damage sensitive equipment. It also gives businesses time to shut down safely in case of prolonged outages,” Lim added.
Resilience for Growing Businesses
As Philippine MSMEs continue to grow, reliable power protection is becoming part of what it means to run a resilient workplace: equipment safeguarded, downtime reduced, customer service uninterrupted. For Schneider Electric, empowering MSMEs means making business continuity practical and accessible, so business owners can focus on growth with protection already built in.
That commitment extends to its products. Schneider Electric also manufactures UPS units in the Philippines, which accounts for 60% of the company's global UPS supply. The APC Smart Factory in Cavite positions the country as a key part of Schneider Electric's global operations and puts locally made power protection technology within closer reach of Philippine businesses.
Additionally, the company is working toward Net Zero by 2050 by using better materials and helping customers use products longer through its "Use Better, Use Longer, Use Again" campaign. It also publishes detailed environmental data — like carbon footprint and recyclability — for 120,000 products online.
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