EDC gets ISO certification

Sunstar Dumaguete
By Victor L. Camion
Saturday, September 6, 2014

ENERGY Development Corporation (EDC) Southern Negros Geothermal Project (SNGP) has been certified to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001: 2004 for Environmental Management System by SGS Philippines, under the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (Ukas).

EDC public relation officer Frances Ariola told Sun.Star that the ISO 14001:2004 is a specific model for management systems focused on identifying and minimizing a company's environmental risks and impact.

Ariola said, "We are proud to have received this certification from the world’s premier inspection, verification, testing, and certification company."

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"This recognition further seals our commitment to responsible environmental management, which is crucial to our company's sustainability," Ariola added, quoting EDC business unit head for Negros Island James Villaroman.

For more than three decades, Ariola said EDC has been responsibly conducting its business alongside environmental stewardship through its watershed management program that includes social forestry, biodiversity conservation and monitoring and forest protection.

In 2008, she said, EDC launched its BINHI greening legacy program as a commitment by Chairman Emeritus Oscar Lopez to the Clinton Global Initiative.

She added that BINHI aims to reforest 1,000 hectares for 10 years.

“Furthermore, it brings back premium, native tree species to abundance as it ensures the recharge of the geothermal reservoir in its areas of operation,” Ariola said.

EDC's environmental management initiative for its geothermal site in Valencia Negros Oriental began in April 2013. It aimed to establish a model that will systematically reduce EDC's environmental impact and implement waste reduction and conservation programs that will result in savings in operating cost.

Ariola said that SGS conducted stage 1 of the certification audit in SNGP in June 2014 and stage 2 in July 2014.

She said the certification was then granted in August 2014 after EDC NIGBU has established that its management system is in line with the requirements of the ISO 14001:2004 standard and demonstrated the ability of the system to systematically achieve agreed requirements within the scope and the organization's policy and objectives.

The certificate is valid for three years, subject to an annual surveillance audit, she said.

EDC is the country’s leading producer of geothermal energy and a multi-awarded Filipino company in the areas of geothermal development, environmental excellence, corporate governance, and corporate social responsibility. source