POC-2017-03-August-E-Newsletter2

PHILIPPINES OPERATING CENTRE

Imagineering

ISSUE 6

Collaborative Solar
Projects Throughout
Australia

by Lucas Blight

Secret Paradise

by Gladies Medrana

Carl’s pool

HeWlnlefooobthrhnTuuaEiuetnmvIamtamgeAsimaobsmotbfnapesAuaFedrerAtltesbisrrnoiiwwitpaemocahafrtla)eieleiapoleloiyOblksliauvo,esgneenenorreadsufltfdyomv.aeaohfmoironstsorteeumhhrmttiawttslranehysosto,a,htloeesraorUhnsetwiessvrhtnoaKghtheseoimegwsaeaefxaetwfnuywdxihtswcmineiastlfoenliterdceennhne.beuadnkaegmdvetnPtnyoeieyaveeticrrotrnneehanfiunvaobudaaidsgoolluemvteousylctoerevuel.eeoifnefco,nsitsaIundthklrotwtr’ynasoewhaiystennetronoAotciynhmasaduwdijweaeraoemelgtleonywasPhuntetdihtenhoebcydeorfipshalieTamsfirptceesedahwohapkoattrieu-anoneimphnsotsgr!aeloaeenk.fgxbomins.WnpefterdrArt(edeoaeooeu,rmcnlrpboitacbehkSduuronu,egNdaroucseotgueilendret.stehnthss’ftr.soqpmulaittenhneing
- Carl Willis

Collaborative Solar Projects
Throughout Australia

by Lucas Blight

Image representation only. Not the actual project photo

The GHD Manila Power team has The projects are the 330 MW worked some long hours to deliver.
recently ramped up our workshare Riverland Solar Farm, the 120 MW Equally, it was one of the first
involvement in recent months and Rollingstone Solar Farm and the projects of this nature that has been
have just delivered three solar 250 MW Nowingi Solar Farm. The delivered between the Victorian
farm early works packages for the projects are for an Australian EPC Power team and the Manila team so
Victorian Operating Centre. contractor, Downer and involved there was plenty of learnings made
developing an early package. on how to run a project across
Solar projects just 12 months ago Downer are the preferred contractor multiple offices.
were unheard of in Australia, with for each of the three projects. The
just four solar farms constructed early works included developing Despite all of the challenges, a
across the country and these were a site panel layout that minimised high quality set of documents have
only small projects, of 10 MW to cost and maximised output, the now been issued. The Victorian
20 MW in size. However, will solar cable reticulation throughout the team and Manila team are now
panel prices falling by over 30% last site, basic civil works and a yield looking to develop a standard set
year, panel efficiencies increasing assessment of the site to determine of documents for these sorts of
meaning greater yield and new how much power it can generate. projects to allow a fast and efficient
technologies meaning preparation delivery for future projects. And with
works are reduced, coupled with a The project was not without any luck, the next round for these
change in direction from the federal challenges. The project was under projects will be the detailed design.
government, the industry has taken time pressure with tight delivery
off. timeframes. That meant the team

Fake it! Until You Make it. When
we expand our horizon, we learn
something new. Our four Wind
Development Projects in Indonesia
have given me the opportunity
to enhance our capability for
noise measurements, landscape
and visual impact amenity (LVIA)
assessment, and shadow flicker
(SF) surveys as part of our emerging
environmental monitoring.

Visited two out of the four–the
South Sulawesi and South
Kalimantan sites are very much
similar to the Philippines in terms
of people’s physique, weather
and environment. Mosques are
scattered almost everywhere, where
Muslims or majority of the people
pray for five times a day. I have
eaten fish everyday for 40-days
and it seemed that I enjoyed fish
dishes more than ever because of
its delightful taste. Farmlands are
mostly composed of rice, corn,
dragon fruit, rubber trees and palm
oil trees.

Completing the noise monitoring
set-up and portable weather
station were quiet a big challenge
for myself as well as for Craig
who is assigned in Melbourne.
We paid for excess baggage fee,
hand-carried our solar panel, and
bought the other metallic parts for
the set-up in Indonesia. We also
bought 12 lead acid batteries to
power-up our noise loggers for
14-days per monitoring site. Just
like the Philippines, Indonesia is an
archipelago, and in order to move

from one island to another, we need cultural areas to observe if there the journey, is my role as team
to ride an airplane. Thanks to a
shipping company for bringing our would be a positive or negative view leader and coordinator for GHD,
environmental monitoring set-up
including the very heavy lead acid if wind turbine is erected, while SF PTHI (subcon) and PACE (client
batteries from South Sulawesi to
Java and then to Kalimantan and surveys is not only measuring the representative). It’s all about bringing
back again to Java, where it will
stay there and will be used once configuration of the houses affected the people together towards the
again when I get back in August
to conduct fieldwork for the two by the shadow effects, but also a same goal, and I believe that
remaining sites.
chance to meet and socialize with distance and language difference
My spectrum of understanding the
environment widens upon doing the people. should not hinder our passion for
LVIA and SF surveys. Doing LVIA
surveys lets me travel to tourist and domination
IndonesiaThe most challenging part of
By Patrick Caddarao

Events

Philippine Hydro Summit

by Francis Aranzamendez

Renewable energy in the These developments led us to solutions. We also participated
Philippines is a growing industry join the 2nd Philippine Hydro in the exhibit hall where we had
and Hydro is one of the reasons Summit and Exhibition last July our own GHD booth show casing
to it. GHD started exploring the 12-13 which was held at Makati our projects and capability. Our
Hydro opportunities in 2015 Diamond Residences. GHD was clients like Meralco, Vivant,
were the Energy Group won an asked to become one of the Repower and COHECO were also
Engineering Review for 6MW presentors where Nick Petrovic, represented. Overall, the Summit
Malogo HEPP. This was followed Technical Director for Dams & was a success activity for us. This
by a Lender’s Engineer Role for Tailings presented engineering will definitely bring awareness to
Timbaban. The Energy Group challenges for small and large the industry that GHD is serious
grew in numbers and the success hydro projects. His experience player in the energy space
continued. Now POC is currently highlight GHD’s capability in particularly in world of Hydro.
doing three (3) Owner’s Engineers dealing with complex engineering
Role for Hydro (Lalawinan, problems and be able to provide
Pulanai and Kapangan) which we quality and cost effective
are involve for 5 years.

“A home away from home” –
That is my exact feeling

by Anjan Kundu It was an absolute pleasure to Manila just continued to be
be part of the Mining Luncheon stronger in the presence of
3 Days in Phillipines: warm proudly sponsored by GHD Manny, an incredible person,
welcome with special hospitality, held in Manila Polo Club last 9 friend and advisor. I appreciate
4 Meetings, 2 Client Visits, 2 June 2017 . It offered me an the open discussion with Carl,
Days of Site Visit— this is a opportunity to be part of the Darren, Joel, Manny and the
quick summary of my recent Philippines Mining community, other members of the Service
trip to Philippines in the role of able to speak to the members, Line. It was a forum to share
Service Line Leader. From arrival share their concern and celebrate ideas, learn more and improve
to departure, it was a perfect the journey. It is encouraging together.
organisation by Aileen. to note that our Clients are very
open to new and innovative ideas Another aspect that bonded
and share experiences from me even stronger is the ‘Happy
other projects around the world. Shirt’, a very special thing to me.
It is a symbol to togetherness,
Then the trip to Philex Padcal collaboration, proudness to be
mine, an iconic site. Epi, very a part of the big GHD family and
experienced and competent grow together with mutual care
technical person and friend and respect. I am committed
accompanied me. I was to strengthen this bond further
overwhelmed to see such a and come back to Philippines,
strong GHD Team working my second home. GHD is well
on site collaboratively with a recognised in the mining and
competent office based Team. tailings space in Philippines.
Now, it is our role to work
The relationship that was started together and develop a legacy
in 2008 during my first visit to that we all can be proud of.

Wanderlust

Secret Paradise

by Gladies Medrana
Are you tired of your weekend routine going to malls?
Or staying at home while binge watching your favourite
k-dramas?
This might be of help…
Since January, I joined a group of passionate travellers
who want to explore the hidden beauty of our country
without leaving my pockets empty.
Budget? Checked! Destination? Unknown.

Yes. Destination is kept secret at first and revelation of the place is when you get there. What made me decide to
join this escapade aside from boredom?

Imagine the trill of going to a place you’ve never been to and knowing that you will do something unique and
rustic and old school. An off-beaten place where there is no cellphone reception and the best way to get there is
to have unlimited patience (and rice) and countless appreciation. Patience for the long, inconvenient land and sea
travel and appreciation of God’s wonderful creation. Meeting new people is a bonus who became my so called
“secret friends”.

With my backpack, my travelling hat and an adventurous mind, I hopped into a van, then a bus and a boat
and a tryke to reach the beauty that lies within our reach. Clear sea water. Fresh air. White sands. Mangroves.
Underwater caves. Forest trail. Marine life. Beautiful sunsets. Name it!

These places may have been discarded by the government for development but sometimes this is still something
to be thankful about because you will learn how they strive to live their lives to the fullest with what they have,
treasure all the natural resources on the best way that they know and flaunt this astonishing hidden paradise.

Wanderlust

Hanging coffins to popular for backpackers and recreational trail runners.
cobbled streets Saturday morning we trekked thru the town cemetery
and an overgrown trail down to Echo Valley to view the
by Greg Dougherty Sugong hanging coffins displayed high on the cliff face.
At Lumiang Cave we saw the centuries old coffins with
Setting out in darkness from noisy Manila on a Friday lizard carvings stacked inside the cave entrance.
morning, my partner and I ventured to the Northern
provinces. Stopping first at the ‘City of Pines’ Baguio, Leaving Sagada we drove further north to Vigan.
enjoying our meryanda at Mines View Observation Bedding down at the historic the Cordillera Inn on
Deck overlooking the mountains of the Cordillera Crisologo Street in the heart of Mestizo District. Fancy
ranges. that we were the only quests. My partner managed to
negotiate a special deal. Later that night we witness
Driving further north, we had lunch at roadside resto filming of stars acting for a tele series in Crisologo
near the highest point of all Philippines highways. For Street. Next day we hitched a ride on a horse and
some sections of the Halsema Highway, the road had buggy and toured the sights of Crisologo St, St Paul
given way due to landslips caused from the recent Catherdral, the pottery factories, mansions with capiz-
typhoons. 2 lanes were reduced down to 1 lane width shell windows and the provincial jail, where Elpidio
with shear drops down to the valley floor. Quirino., the Philippines’ sixth president, was born.
Vigan is like a step back in time to days of the Spanish
We arrived at Sagada early nightfall and stayed the and Chinese of the 19th century. Before leaving for
night at a quaint little B&B. Sagada is an idyllic town in home we feasted on freshly baked empanadas.
nestled in the jungles of the Cordillera Mountains and is Masarap.

EAP

by Hannah Blythe Dionisio
Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) was re-launched last June 29, 2017 by Ms. Agnes Nano,
Consultant from In Touch Community Services, Inc.
EAP is a short-term counseling/coaching services designed to assist employees in dealing with
work and/or personal issues that may be impacting morale, health, productivity and emotional well-
being.
This free and voluntary service is being offered to ensure that our employees will have a safe and
confidential support outside their own circles.
If you require guidance or information about this benefit please contact the People Team.
To book an appointment, call the EAP hotlines – 8937606 / 8106218 / 8931893

iConnect

by Patrice Sharmaine Sucalit and Marvi Agapito
Document sharing is one of the features made available by iConnect. It is designed to boost
efficiency and help meet deadlines by allowing multiple authors to simultaneously work on the same
document; either on the Microsoft Web app or from the comforts of the Microsoft Office app on the
desktop. However, a multitude of errors may still arise and sometimes you find yourself locked out
of the document. Our new iConnect updates have worked to resolve this issue.
The “Unlock document” is a feature that has been added to iConnect’s document library to
immediately resolve the error stating that the “Document is locked for editing by the person editing it
(i.e. yourself)”. Here’s how to use it:
• Open the Document library
• Click the ellipsis (menu) beside the locked document
• Click the ellipsis (3 dots) then select the ‘Unlock Document’ option
• A pop-up window will appear on the upper right portion of the site that says, “The document has

been unlocked”.
• Note: Only use this feature to unlock your own dual edit

Thank you to all contributors:

Carl Willis
Lucas Blight
Anjan Kundu
Francis Aranzamendez
Patrick Cadarao
Gladies Medrana
Greg Dougherty
Patrice Sucalit
Marvi Agapito
Hannah Blythe Donisio
If you wish to contribute for our newsletter (projects,
events, announcements, and travel), feel free to email

us at
[email protected]

www.ghd.com