At the 2025 Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA) Internal Audit Summit, the Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) highlighted the growing strategic and commercial significance of internal audit in driving innovation and operational transformation in the power sector.
In his keynote address, Meralco executive vice president and COO Ronnie L. Aperocho emphasized that internal audit has evolved from a compliance-focused function to a key enabler of risk-aware decision-making and disciplined execution. “Embedding audit foresight into strategic execution ensures transformation with control,” Aperocho said, underscoring the role of audit in managing risks amid regulatory and technological shifts.
Meralco senior vice president and group chief audit executive Melanie T. Oteyza further stressed the importance of strategic auditing in the context of digital transformation. Citing the company’s advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) as the “digital nervous system of modern utilities,” Oteyza called for a shift in audit frameworks to address cybersecurity, data integrity, vendor reliability, and compliance risks.
The AMI program underpins initiatives like the government’s Retail Aggregation Program, which saw 292 services switch across 19 groups by June 2025.
Oteyza urged ASEAN utility auditors to adopt AI and analytics for insights-driven auditing and to evolve into “catalysts of resilience and innovation.”
She advocated for early adoption of global best practices in AMI governance, cross-border collaboration, and continuous learning to build audit maturity across Southeast Asia.
The 13 to 14 August summit convened 150 audit leaders and practitioners from seven ASEAN countries, with the Philippines represented by Meralco, National Grid Corp., National Power Corp., and National Transmission Corp.
The summit reinforced the critical role of internal audit in securing the future of regional energy systems.
