GEOTHERMAL leader Energy Development Corporation's (EDC) Southern Negros Geothermal Project (SNGP) has recently won its second Gawad Tugas award under the Clean Air and Water category from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 7 for its exemplary performance in environmental protection, conservation, and management.

EDC won its first Gawad Tugas under the National Greening program category in 2015.

Now on its 4th year, the Gawad Tugas award is conferred to organizations that have innovated and gone beyond compliance to protect the environment.

A total of 25 nominees were screened but only 14 were chosen as winners, including EDC. The selection was based on four criteria, namely advancement, support, and innovations of the country’s environmental mandate, vision, goals, and policy statements; dedication and demonstration of good environmental and sustainability practices beyond normal responsibilities and functions; environmental leadership as a role model for others to emulate; and performance on the implementation of programs within the last 12 months.

To date, EDC has already planted over 6.3 million seedlings with the help of its 149 partners from 16 regions all over the country.

More than 2.5 million of these were planted on over 3,000 hectares in Negros Island with the help of EDC's over 30 Binhi local partners.

"We are deeply honored to be among this year's recipients of this award," said Vicente Omandam Jr., head of EDC Reservoir and Project Management Division in Negros Island. "We share this recognition with all our BINHI and 10M in 10 partners who continuously help us fulfill our commitment to green Negros Island." (PR)