Meralco vice president and corporate communications head Agapito ‘Joe’ Zaldarraiaga with members of the Meralco Biz Partners Group. (Photo: Meralco)
WITH the steady reopening of the economy following the easing of minimum health safety protocols due to the decreasing number of Covid-19 infections, government realizes the importance of providing support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as the country treads towards post-pandemic recovery.
According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), SMEs are a global economic driving force and in the Philippines, they, along with micro enterprises, account for 63 percent of employment and 36 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, which in actual numbers translates to about 5.71 million jobs and almost US$132.3 billion in monetary value.
To this, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) Biz Partners Group (MBPG) has expressed agreement, stressing how in the National Capital Region and, Central Luzon and Cavite-Laguna-Batangas, Rizal-Quezon areas have secured their presence for some 93,000 SME customers.
“Providing support to SMEs is crucial as the country treads towards post-pandemic recovery, and as most SMEs are located at the National Capital Region, Region IV A (CALABARZON), and Region III (Central Luzon)—regions producing 73 percent of the country’s fross domestic product (GDP)—then the weight of this support is better understood,” MBPG head and Meralco assitant vice president Joy Mendoza pointed out.
Mendoza explained that for tailor-fit end-to-end energy solutions, Meralco has a segment dedicated to empowering SMEs to bounce back from this health crisis and achieve their business objectives, which is the Meralco Biz Partners Group.
“It is our thrust to understand, anticipate and address the energy needs of businesses with a monthly power demand of 5 to 499 kilowatts, and with the SMEs as the backbone of the economy, it is important that they have constant and reliable partners who can help them grow their business,” she added.
MBPG, the Meralco VP described, offers a wide array of energy services and solutions that can address their needs—whether they are setting up a new business, recovering from a crisis or planning for expansion,” says Joy P. Mendoza, Assistant Vice President and Head of Meralco Biz Partners Group.
“By collaborating with Biz Partners Group, SMEs can expect these benefits: early planning to ensure that energization schedule matches their target opening date; services that can help improve operational efficiency, generate savings, maximize profitability, and align with sustainability goals; as well as innovative technologies that can help propel their business to new heights,” she concluded.
