Built on a culture of safety, preparedness, and teamwork
Strength and teamwork on display as Greenstone’s ERT takes on the Tug-of-War competition during the 8th Caraga Mining SummitTubod, Surigao del Norte / October 2026 – When an emergency strikes, there is little room for hesitation. Every second counts. Every decision matters. And behind every response is a team that must be ready to act, not only with the right skillset, but with discipline, coordination, and confidence.
These qualities were put to the test as Greenstone Resources Corporation’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) emerged as the Overall Champion of the 8th Caraga Mining Summit – Safety Competition 2026. The achievement came after a strong performance across the competition’s various events, with Greenstone’s responders securing the championship title in the First Aid Competition and earning 1st Runner-Up finishes in both the Busted Hose and Up-the-Ladder Competitions as well as Best Muse.
For Safety and Health Manager Aldrin Arieta, the recognition reflects the team’s commitment to continuously strengthening its capabilities and maintaining a high level of preparedness for actual emergency situations
“This achievement demonstrates that our continuous training and preparation are paying off. More than winning the competition, our goal is to ensure that our responders are confident, disciplined, and fully prepared to respond whenever an emergency occurs,” Arieta said.
More than a competition
The First Aid Competition challenged the team to demonstrate how quickly and effectively they could assess a situation, provide immediate patient care, and coordinate their response under pressure. For emergency responders, these are more than just competition skills. They are critical capabilities that can make a difference when an actual emergency occurs.
The team also faced the physically demanding Busted Hose and Up-the-Ladder Competition, where agility, endurance, technical ability, and teamwork were put to the test. The responders had to rely on one another and execute each task with precision – and their performance earned them a 1st Runner-Up finish.
Greenstone also secured a podium finish in the Muse Competition, earning another 1st Runner-Up distinction and adding to the team’s overall points in the summit. With a strong finishe across three competitions, Greenstone ultimately secured the highest overall standing and took home the Overall Champion title.
Built through preparation
“The competition allows us to test what we’ve learned, assess our strengths, and identify areas where we can improve,” said Arieta, stressing that the championship represents more than mere awards and recognition.
Emergency responses are not something that can simply be learned during emergencies. It is built through continuous training, teamwork, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. The competition allowed Greenstone’s responders to put these qualities into practice while learning from and sharing experiences with fellow ERTs in the mining industry.
More importantly, it reinforced a simple principle: effective emergency response starts with being prepared before an emergency happens.
Safety track record
The ERT’s performance at the summit is also part of Greenstone’s continuing efforts to strengthen safety and health and maintain a high level of emergency preparedness and response across its operations. Today, these efforts have contributed to another significant milestone.
Since Greenstone’s acquisition of the Siana Gold Project, the company has achieved 20.5 million safe man-hours, a milestone that reflects years of collective effort by employees and contractors who continue to observe safety protocols, undergo training, identify and manage risks, and remain prepared to respond to emergencies and unexpected situations.
It has likewise participated in both regional and national competitions, cornering championships in the Bureau of Fire Protection (Caraga) Regional Fire Olympics, National Fire Olympics, and the Surigao del Norte Governor’s Rescuelympics.
The safe man-hours milestone, together with the ERT’s performance at the Caraga Mining Summit, reflects the same commitment: “Safety Begins with Me, Let’s Go for Zero Accident.” Moreover, it is a continuing reminder that preparedness is built long before the moment people need to respond.
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