Nurse Mary Trishia Alesna and the rest of EDC’s COVID-19 officers in Negros and in all its sites have been working hard to keep employees and contractors safeEnergy Development Corporation’s (EDC) 222.5- megawatt Southern Negros Geothermal Project (SNGP) has been certified as compliant with the minimum health standards set by the government on COVID-19.

Though getting the safety seal certification is voluntary, EDC took on the challenge and invited representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment to inspect its 24/7 green energy facility in Valencia, Negros Oriental to showcase its health and safety protocols for its employees and contractors.

“The utmost importance that we give to the health and safety of our workforce and partners has been put to the test since the start of the pandemic last year. It was imperative for EDC to keep everyone safe from the time they enter our facilities to the time they go home to their families as we continue to provide an uninterrupted source of clean, reliable power to our country,” said SNGP head Engr. Debonnaire Mamhot.

Through the collaborative efforts of EDC’s occupational health team and COVID-19 officers led by Mary Trishia Alesna, safety officers Earl Alano and Ma. Theresa Cardino and compliance officer Bonife Marie Gaso-Llena, they were able to showcase EDC-SNGP’s protocols and implementation that consisted of thorough health entry screening, strengthened COVID-19 health information, education and communication campaign, and signage reminding everyone of the minimum health standards and the need for full compliance.

“This certification encourages us to share our best practices with our stakeholders and other companies to help them keep their own people safe from COVID-19 and harm,” noted Mamhot.

EDC’s Negros team has been consistently recognized for its practices that go beyond compliance and sustainability. In June, it won a Gawad Tugas award in the Clean Air and Water-Power Plant category from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Last year, its Baslay Coffee Project received awards from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines and the League of Corporate Foundations. (Story/Photos by: Frances Ariola)