By Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
Locators inside the Cavite Economic Zone (CEZ) may resume operations on condition they comply with the guidelines set by the government, according to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
Under Memorandum Circular No. 2020-017, PEZA Director General Charito B. Plaza said that it is the decision of CEZ locators to resume operations or not.
“As the decision to resume operations lies on the company management, they are advised to strictly follow the rules. There shall be no commute or pick-up of employees from place of residence or pick up point to zone,” the MC stated.
This means, Plaza said that workers must be housed in one facility provided by companies in one pick up area not in their residence nor other areas except where housing facility is, to avoid too much movement.
The MC stated that ecozone firms’ operations must be guided by the guidelines issued by the government.
On March 19, 2020, PEZA suspended operations of all the business establishments in CEZ until further notice under CEZ Memorandum Circular No. 2020-013 due to the increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and patients under inves¬tigation/monitoring (PUIs/ PUMs) in the area.
Plaza said that the suspension of one of the biggest public ecozone followed after the recommendation of the zone manager.
CEZ has a total of 439 companies or locators, employing a total of 68,058 workers.