MGEN names new Thermal Energy leaders

MANILA — Meralco PowerGen Corp. announced new senior leadership appointments across its thermal power operations and future energy initiatives as the company moves to strengthen reliability, innovation and long-term value creation.

MGEN appointed Arnel L. Santos as president and chief executive officer of MGEN Thermal Energy Inc., effective July 1, 2026.

The appointment comes as the Securities and Exchange Commission approved the corporate name change of Global Business Power Corp., or GBP, to MGEN Thermal Energy Inc.

MGEN said the renaming marks a significant milestone in the company’s evolution.

The new corporate name reinforces MGEN Thermal’s strategic alignment within the broader MGEN portfolio.

It also reflects the company’s role as MGEN’s dedicated thermal power generation platform.

Santos succeeds Felino “Lino” Bernardo, whose leadership, MGEN said, strengthened MGEN Thermal’s operational foundation and reinforced its role as a reliable and significant contributor to the broader MGEN portfolio.

Santos brings more than three decades of leadership experience across the global energy, refining, petrochemicals and industrial technology sectors.

MGEN said Santos has a strong track record in improving asset performance, strengthening safety culture and driving operational excellence in complex, capital-intensive environments.

Before his appointment, Santos served as senior vice president and chief operating officer of MGEN Thermal.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, cum laude, from the University of the Philippines.

As part of the leadership transition, MGEN also named Sam Manlosa as chief operating officer of MGEN Thermal Energy Inc., effective July 1, 2026.

MGEN said Santos and Manlosa will lead MGEN Thermal’s next phase of growth and transformation.

Their focus areas will include operational excellence, asset reliability and the adoption of best-in-class thermal power generation practices.

MGEN also announced that Bernardo, the outgoing MGEN Thermal president and CEO, will assume the role of head of strategic energy transition at MGEN.

Bernardo’s new role will run under a two-year engagement from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028.

In the position, Bernardo will help advance MGEN’s long-term growth and transition agenda across the broader portfolio.

He will lead the strategic development and management of MGEN’s power generation project pipeline.

His responsibilities will include project identification, feasibility studies, execution strategies and growth initiatives.

MGEN said Bernardo will handle key developments such as Atimonan One Energy, the expansion project in Toledo and other strategic initiatives aligned with the company’s long-term energy ambitions.

Bernardo will oversee projects across the full lifecycle, from development and construction through commissioning and operational handover.

He will also drive stakeholder coordination considered critical to successful project delivery.

MGEN said Bernardo will lead nuclear energy development studies as part of his expanded mandate.

He will also serve as strategic adviser on liquefied natural gas and indigenous gas initiatives.

MGEN said Bernardo will help strengthen organizational capability by mentoring future leaders within the Project Development and Execution function.

The mentoring role is intended to support leadership continuity and long-term organizational readiness.

“This leadership transition positions us strongly for both today’s operational priorities and tomorrow’s growth opportunities. Arnel will lead MGEN Thermal with a focus on reliability, operational excellence, and sustainable performance, while Lino’s expanded mandate at MGEN enables us to accelerate strategic initiatives that will shape the future of our portfolio and the country’s energy sector,” said Emmanuel V. Rubio, MGEN President and CEO.

MGEN’s leadership changes come as the Philippine power sector continues to balance energy security, generation reliability and the long-term transition to cleaner and more diversified energy sources.

As the power generation arm of Meralco, MGEN has been positioning its portfolio to support both current baseload requirements and emerging technologies that could shape the country’s future energy mix.