First Gen-owned Energy Development Corporation’s (EDC) 222.5-megawatt (MW) Southern Negros Geothermal Project 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, the geothermal leader took on the challenge and invited representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to inspect its 24/7 green energy facility in Valencia, Negros Oriental to showcase its health and safety protocols for its employees and contractors on site.
“The utmost importance that we give to the health and safety of our workforce and partners have 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 Engr. Debonnaire T. Mamhot, head of the Southern Negros Geothermal Project (SNGP).
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 (temperature scanners, health declaration form, QR Code scanning) strengthened COVID-Health Information, Education, and Communication campaign, and signages reminding everyone of our 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,” added Mamhot.
EDC’s Negros team has been consistently recognized for its practices that go beyond compliance and sustainability.
In June of this year, it won the Gawad Tugas award for the Clean Air and Water-Power Plant Category from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for its exemplary performance in environmental protection, conservation, and management.
Last year, its Baslay Coffee Project for its Baslay Farmers’ Association also received the prestigious Grand Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines and the Best CSR Award for Enterprise Development from the League of Corporate Foundations’ CSR Guild Awards.
EDC likewise elevates its power customers in Negros Island and all over the country by helping them lower their carbon footprint and even becoming carbon neutral through the clean, reliable, geothermal energy or Geo 24/7 that it provides them.
In total, EDC generates over 40% of the Philippines’ renewable energy output and serves about 10% of the country’s overall electricity demand with its installed capacity of almost 1,500MW.
The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) is a pioneer in generating 100% clean, renewable, and reliable power as an electricity supplier in the Philippines for over 40 years. With power plants all over Visayas and Mindanao, the company is one of the biggest producers of geothermal energy in Asia and is expanding its reach in the international market, allowing it to offer customers affordable energy rates. EDC also strives to provide the best customer service it can to all its clients by having helpful salespeople and easy to understand contracts. Because of all of this, it is poised to become the premier supplier of electricity for the Philippines’ Green Energy Option Program. EDC takes its mission as a renewable energy provider seriously and goes beyond sustainability by investing in programs that enhance the environment and empower its partner communities, thereby fostering regenerative development. The company has also been working toward being carbon-neutral by improving its energy efficiency, as well as implementing various greening projects to ensure that its mission to provide future generations with a better life remains intact.
