EDC’s HSE team led by Joel Handugan, Ronnie Andador, Drigo Rizo, Engellau Flores and Paulo Gooco receive the company’s award from the Department of Labor and EmploymentEnergy Development Corporation (EDC) was recently chosen as the National Occupational Safety and Health Champion at the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) 11th Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan (GKK) awarding ceremony.

The award was given to EDC’s 108-megawatt (MW) Mount Apo Geothermal Project (MAGP), located in Kidapawan, North Cotabato, for the exemplary implementation of its safety and health programs and its promotion of occupational safety and health (OSH) towards zero accidents in the workplace.

MAGP health, safety and environment (HSE) department head Eduardo Morales Jr. and HSE officer Engr. Joel Handugan both won a National Silver Award in the individual category for their significant accomplishments and contributions to MAGP’s OSH initiatives.

“We are deeply honored to receive these awards that recognize our painstaking efforts to maintain a safe and healthy environment not only for all employees of EDC, but also for all our stakeholders in our areas of operation,” said Morales.

Since 1991, DOLE has been giving the GKK award to establishments and individuals with commendable safety practices in the workplace and in the community. The 11th GKK awarding was attended by DOLE Sec. Silvestre Bello III together with the other members of the board of judges—Joji Aragon, OICUndersecretary of DOLE; Noel Binag, executive director of the Occupational Safety and Health Center; and Edgardo Lacson, chairman of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines.

EDC is the world’s largest vertically-integrated geothermal developer, generating 1,457.8 MW of clean and renewable energy for the country. (Story/Photos by: Frances Ariola)