BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Binga and Ambuklao Hydroelectric Power Plants of the SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet, are the 13th Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan (GKK) Cordillera Regional winners under the Industry category.
The GKK is an award given by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) in recognition of outstanding achievements of enterprises and individuals in implementing successful occupational safety and health programs that respond to the needs of workers, workplaces and their communities.
In the awarding ceremony at Baguio City on October 7, DOLE-Cordillera Assistant Regional Director Emerito Narag and OSHC Environment Control Division Chief Evelyn Tandayu led the awarding of the GKK trophies and cash prize of P30,000 each to SNAP-Benguet officials headed by the Binga and Ambuklao Plants Manager Hollis Fernandez.
The SNAP Benguet Hydroelectric powerplants are now among the 34 awardees from 13 different regions that will be judged and deliberated by professional Occupational Safety and Health leaders from the workers’ and employers’ group, the government and non-government organizations for the national GKK Awards set on October 24 and 25.
National GKK champions in the industry, Government, Micro Enterprise/Informal Sector and Individual categories will receive a trophy designed by internationally acclaimed artist Ramon Orlina and cash prize of P100,000 for the enterprise categories and P50,000 for the individual category.
OSHC Executive Director Engr. Jose Maria Batino, in his keynote message, called for a continuing partnership with the government and DOLE in pushing forward safe and healthy workplaces in the region and the country as a whole.
“I hope that this recognition fuels your enthusiasm even more to excel in OSH and positively impact the lives of your workers and the community you belong to. But beyond the prizes, the best recognition that you can receive from the GKK is to be considered a legitimate partner of the DOLE and the entire government in its goal to protect workers and safeguard their rights, particularly the right to have a safe and healthy work environment”, Batino stressed.
“Continue to persevere in your advocacy of providing decent work to Filipinos by providing safe and healthy workplaces. Continue to inspire other companies and individuals to contribute to the creation of a robust OSH culture in this region and in the country,” he added.
Narag congratulated the Cordillera GKK regional awardees for the well-deserved recognition which is a testament of their hard work, dedication and innovative spirit of ensuring occupational safety and health of workers in the workplace. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)
