The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) feted establishments and individuals in Central Luzon which promote the safety and health needs of their workers, workplace, and community.
During the 13th Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan (GKK) awarding ceremony, DOLE Regional Director and GKK Chairperson Geraldine Panlilio stressed the importance of OSH and how a proactive approach benefits everyone.
“Your participation reflects your recognition of OSH as a necessity. The commitment that we saw in your efforts to safeguard your workers has surpassed our expectations, demonstrating your understanding that your employees are as vital to you as you are to them,” she said.
For his part, OSHC Executive Director Jose Maria Batino said that merely joining the search is a testament to the companies’ commitment in valuing the well-being of their employees.
“Our [labor] secretary often says that occupational safety and health is non-negotiable. There should be no leveraging here,” he said.
Under the industry sector, Tong Lung Phils. Metal Industry in Subic, Zambales and Perpetual Prime Manufacturing Inc. (PPMI) in Mariveles, Bataan won as the region’s GKK champions. Their safety officers Antonita Jutie Ambay (Tong Lung) and Manuel Gonzales (PPMI) were also awarded as individual winners.
Tong Lung currently has more than 2,000 employees and specializes in mechanical locks and electronic remote access solutions; while PPMI has more than 1,700 employees and is engaged in the manufacturing and export of premium handbags.
Tong Lung’s safety officer Antonita Jutie Ambay shared that OSH has been one of their company’s core principles, citing the importance of collaboration among the management, people, and stakeholders.
“It is part of our mission and vision, and we go for safety first. Procedures and programs are just paper, and it is the implementation that is hard to do. But if the people are motivated and they know that they are being taken care of, the efficiency and productivity will follow,” she said.
Meanwhile, under the government category, Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga was hailed as a GKK champion, together with its safety officer Dr. Jose Saporne as an individual awardee.
SSMP Philippines Corp. in San Miguel, Tarlac; Luzon Clean Water Development Corp. in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan; and 1726 OSHEA Corp. in Angeles City, Pampanga also received special citations for their best practices on emergency preparedness and OSH capability building.
All GKK regional winners received a trophy and cash prize amounting to P30,000 for the industry sector and government institutions, and P20,000 for individual awardees.
They are to compete at the 13th GKK National Awarding set in November in Cebu. (CLJD/MJSC-PIA Region 3, Pampanga)