Republic Act No. 12146, signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on April 11, 2025, grants the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) a renewed 25-year franchise to continue operating its electric power distribution network. The renewed franchise authorizes Meralco to construct, operate, and maintain distribution systems for the delivery of electricity to end-users across Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal, as well as specific areas in Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, and Pampanga.
The new franchise term will take effect upon the expiration of Meralco’s current franchise under Republic Act No. 9209, which is set to end on June 28, 2028.
The legislative journey of the renewal began with the approval of House Bill No. 10926 by the House of Representatives in November 2024. The Senate followed suit, passing the bill on third and final reading on February 4, 2025. The consolidated bill received endorsement from the Office of the President on March 14, 2025, paving the way for its enactment into law as R.A. 12146.
Meralco remains the country’s largest private-sector electric distribution utility, serving 39 cities and 72 municipalities. Although its franchise area covers just 3% of the Philippines’ total land area (approximately 9,685 square kilometers), it accounts for 55% of the nation’s electricity consumption.
Meralco and its subsidiaries operate across both regulated and unregulated segments of the energy supply chain. Their services include electricity distribution, power generation, retail electricity supply, and infrastructure management. The company also provides a wide range of value-added services such as engineering design, construction and consulting, billing and payment solutions, energy management, as well as telecommunications and IT services.
