Nesvelle Mae Pascua-Amper: The Woman Behind The Digital Substations Of Davao Light

In celebration of National Women's Month, we shine a spotlight on Nesvelle "Nes" Mae Pascua-Amper, a talented engineer who's breaking barriers in her field.

Photo Insert: Responsible for designing and implementing approved protection and control systems of Davao Light’s power systems, Nes takes the lead in improving the digital substations of the power utility.

As a Planning Engineer for Network Protection at Davao Light and Power Co. Inc., an Aboitiz Power Corporation subsidiary, Nes is responsible for designing and implementing protection and control systems for the company's power systems.

Despite working in a male-dominated field, Nes feels that there is no difference when it comes to opportunities offered to both men and women at Davao Light.

She shared that the company is now more conscious of hiring more women engineers, and that decision-making is unbiased, making her feel like a valued part of the team.

Nes' journey to becoming an engineer was not without challenges, but she persevered and excelled. As an AboitizPower scholar, Nes received financial support that allowed her to graduate Cum Laude from the Mindanao State University (MSU) in General Santos City in 2017.

“Since my father’s job as a tailor cannot fully support my studies, I applied to several scholarship programs, including the AboitizPower Distribution Utilities scholarship during my fourth and fifth years in college,” Nes shared.

After passing the board exam, she joined Davao Light as part of the Engineering Corps program, and has since led several projects, including the Binugao Substation, one of Davao Light's first fully digital substations using Software Defined Network (SDN), which grants the distribution utility a more centralized and streamlined approach to distribution network management.

“We provide settings for all the devices that protect the electric distribution networks such as the substations of Davao Light,” she explained further.

Nes' work is crucial in ensuring a reliable and safe power supply to Davao Light's customers. Her protection schemes help keep the company's power system components in good condition, and ensure that power supply is not cut off despite electrical faults, so there is a steady supply of electricity to keep appliances running.

Beyond her impressive work in engineering, Nes practices a vegan lifestyle and enjoys badminton, bowling, weightlifting, and going to the gym during her free time.

Nes' story is a testament to the capabilities and contributions of women in the field of engineering, and we celebrate her achievements during National Women's Month.

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