At OceanaGold, safety is fundamental to how we operate. Across our sites, our people make decisions every day that support responsible mining while reflecting our values of care, respect, integrity, performance and teamwork. At Didipio Mine in the Philippines, these values and principles were demonstrated by Acting Development Supervisor Osmer Binwag, whose innovative problem-solving helped reduced risk to his team.

Innovating Under Pressure with Integrity and Teamwork

During Super Typhoon Uwan in 2025, Osmer’s leadership came into focus when a power outage caused a blockage in the paste line supplying underground stopes, bringing critical mining activities, including stope and development firing, to a halt. The situation posed production constraints and safety risks if paste filling could not resume. Rather than rushing, Osmer stopped and assessed the risks (taking a cue from our Stop and Think program). The conventional approach would have required manual cleaning and pipe replacement, increasing exposure to manual handling hazards. But drawing on experience and collaboration, Osmer proposed a safer and more efficient alternative: cleaning the paste line using a jumbo drill. 

When the standard drill bit proved insufficient, Osmer worked closely with the boilermaker to fabricate a specialized drill bit with fins to increase its effective diameter, just enough to clear the blockage inside the paste pipe without damaging the pipe itself. The solution reduced human exposure, restored operations more quickly and delivered cost efficiencies by reusing existing materials.

Leadership Driven by Safety First Thinking

For Osmer, being a frontliner means taking responsibility for movements underground. “Safety must always come first,” he says. “No production target is worth risking a life.”

A civil engineering graduate, husband and new father, Osmer joined Didipio in 2017 with no prior mining background, bringing passion, discipline and a strong commitment to improving his family’s future. Today, his leadership is defined by composure under pressure, clear communication and a consistent focus on empowering teams to act safely when risks arise.

Didipio Mine, Asset President, James Isles said: “Osmer’s actions demonstrate the leadership we value at Didipio: prioritizing safety, thinking critically, and finding solutions that protect our people and operations. He engaged his team, took ownership, and showed that safety and strong performance are connected. This approach helps us build a culture where everyone feels empowered to stop, assess, and act with care and accountability.”

Enabling Performance Through Calm, Decisive Leadership

Superintendent Mining, Lester Mangliwan, describes the impact of Osmer’s quick-thinking: “Osmer understood the urgency but never lost focus on safety. His solution was more efficient than past methods and achieved far more under pressure. He remained calm, decisive and showed no production driven stress.”

Osmer’s leadership extended beyond a technical solution; he worked additional hours to ensure a proper handover and personally demonstrated the method to the incoming crew, reinforcing accountability and consistency. His Supervisor Eugene Karl Tobiagon said: “Osmer’s composure allowed him to give clear instructions and ensure the job was done correctly and safely. His initiative reduced manual handling, minimized downtime and gave the team confidence to share their own ideas.”

Building a Culture of Care and Collective Responsibility

The broader impact of Osmer’s approach was significant. Paste filling resumed sooner, mining fronts were restored and the risk of unsupported voids underground was reduced. Equally importantly, team morale strengthened as employees saw their ideas valued and recognized as part of continuous improvement.

Didipio Mine Supervisor Raphael Baroy summarized it best: “Osmer’s innovative approach minimized downtime, reduced costs and reinforced operational excellence. This is the standard we expect, thinking critically, acting safely and taking ownership.”