Jonathan A. Salidaga, Geochemist – Field and Flow Test

Jonathan A. Salidaga, or “Atan”, as his friends fondly call him, is an exceptional individual who excels in various aspects of his life. With a strong sense of devotion to his family, community, and profession, Atan continually strives to improve himself and make a positive impact on those around him.

As a loving husband to Eva Salidaga and a dedicated father of 3 lovely daughters (Jed, and twins Mia and Sophia), Atan exemplifies the qualities of a caring and supportive family man. He is an active member of a Christian faith community (Servants Of The Living God Ormoc). His involvement in this community reflects his deep-rooted values and his desire to contribute to the spiritual well-being of others. Additionally, Atan’s involvement in socio-civic organizations such as Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc. showcases his commitment to making a difference in society.

With a degree in Forestry obtained in Y2002 and his successful completion of the board licensure examination in the same year, Atan’s professional journey began at the College of Forestry, Visayas State University. There, he undertook the responsibility of conducting forest inventories in nearby municipalities, showcasing his dedication to the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources. In his spare time, Atan loves to play table tennis (as part of his wellness involvement in EDC) and leisure swimming with his family.

In 2013, Atan joined EDC as a field technician where he played a vital role in field geochemistry sampling and other related field works. Through his dedication and competence, he was promoted to the position of Field Geochemistry in 2016. In his new role, Atan took on the responsibilities of planning, coordinating, and executing field geochemistry services. Motivated by a drive for continuous improvement, he successfully implemented 14 significant innovations within his area of responsibility. These innovations not only enhanced cost-savings and process improvements but also prioritized safety, ensuring a secure working environment for himself and his colleagues.

“Atan has always been easy to work with. He is a good collaborator: flexible but firm on what could and could not be done in the field. His innovation may be simple from a technical standpoint, but the fact that no one else thought of it shows how he thinks outside the box. His work attitude is very much who he is as a person: open-minded and ready for anything.” Jansell Jamero (Process Geochemist), peer

“I know Jonathan as a resourceful person, able to optimize work programs without compromising the quality of service provided to his clients. He does not hesitate to voice out his ideas especially when he knows it would make the work scope better and he listens to inputs from his peers to improve the work process. I know Jonathan as a reliable brother in our faith community who selflessly serves in his chosen ministry and makes every effort to be the best husband and father to his family.” - Edgar Amatong (Process Geochemist), peer

His innovation, the Installation of TFT injection & sampling point extensions to eliminate confined space and working-at-height risks, centers on the safety of the worker. As a geothermal field front liner, he encountered these safety risks, which led him to conceptualize an innovation that will, eliminate, if not mitigate these risks. Thus, innovation was born. To eliminate exposure to toxic gasses when working in a confined space, he extended the sampling ports located at least 4 ft below the pad surface using a 1” carbon steel pipe. In doing so, field workers are no longer put at risk by working in a hazardous confined space area. Likewise, to eliminate the likelihood of our workers from fall-related injuries brought about by working 6ft and above from the pad surface, he also extended the injection ports using stainless steel tubing. With this, workers no longer need to climb towards injection ports, and instead work safely within the pad surface.

Currently, the team where he belongs has now successfully implemented 50 work-at-heights & 27 confined space-related injection and sampling port extensions across all 4 EDC geothermal sites. Thanks to Atan’s innovation, the team successfully implemented 50 work-at-heights and 27 confined space-related injection and sampling port extensions across all four EDC geothermal sites. His efforts have saved the lives of colleagues and contractor partners, prevented injuries, and significantly reduced accident-related costs and operations expenses, amounting to 9.3 M pesos per year. Additionally, the work permitting process was streamlined by 25%, optimizing man-hours and enhancing efficiency. By reducing recordable and reportable incidents enterprise-wide, Atan has contributed to maintaining the excellent reputation of EDC.

Atan’s goal is to ensure that all work-at-heights & confined space risks encountered by the team will be mitigated and eliminated through this innovation.

In summary, Atan is an exemplary individual who embodies dedication, compassion, and a strong sense of responsibility. Whether it be as a loving husband and father, an active community member, or a diligent professional, Atan consistently strives for excellence and positively impacts those around him. His continuous pursuit of improvement, both personally and professionally, serves as an inspiration to others, making him a truly remarkable individual.