Philip Hipo, who had no mining work experience and comes from a disadvantaged background is now the best performing employee of Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Limited (RNML) in 2023 and now has an award to prove all the odds.
Hipo is a grade 10 drop-out youth from Yati Village, a community in the Kurumbukari Mining area in the Usino-Budi District, Madang.
He joined RNML in January of 2019 is now appreciating this achievement and his 5 year anniversary with RNML.
“I always maintain punctuality, getting normal job done on time and getting it safely,” said Hipo.
Philip Hipo was engaged with the Logistics and Transport Department at KBK mine site.
“I grabbed the opportunity as a driver at KBK mine and hold it with both hands,” Hipo said.
He said the activities that earned him the award of the year in 2023 includes a variety of areas in his job description as a driver, has always been a motto for him when he is on the road.
“I always maintain punctuality, getting normal jobs done on time, maintaining safety standards, taking good care of the company vehicles (light vehicles) during operational runs and making sure that everything is well protected,” Hipo said.
He was hired based on RNML’s local hire program for a driver position with the Logistics and Transport Department in 2019 and passed every test in the department.
“Before that I was a Public Moto Vehicle (PMV) driver from Usino to Madang town and back,” the proud employee said.
Now he is driving all light vehicles (ten-seater, five-door land cruiser and 30-seater bus) within the mine site.
He also does pickup and drop off from KBK mine site to Madang Main Administration Office, Lae in Morobe Province and Ramu Sugar for employees transiting.
He is now motivated to maintain his good working standards to receive another award at the end of this year (2024).
Philip Hipo returns on a morning drop off at Kurumbukari Mine site and at the admin car park