MARIVELES, Bataan — The municipal government here on Wednesday night informed workers of the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) who are non-residents of this province that they are prohibited from entering this town to protect its residents from the coronavirus disease.
Lawyer Jocelyn Castaneda, Mariveles mayor, said the ban is in effect while they are still gathering information on the capacity of every company issuing return-to-work order to their employees.
“It should be in strict compliance with the minimum health standard set by the Department of Health and Department of Labor and Employment,” the mayor said in a statement.
Castaneda said the local government unit has the prerogative to implement measures to continuously protect the welfare of its residents against the Covid– 19 pandemic.
She said that understanding and cooperation from everyone are needed to combat the deadly virus.
Hazel Keith Ellorin, FAB information officer, said that as of June 1, less than 20,000 workers started reporting to 57 enterprises that resumed operation after Bataan was placed under general community quarantine.
“The workers are all from Bataan. They were permitted to resume working,” she noted.
She said there were 100 multinational firms operating at the Bataan freeport with more than 40,000 workers under their employ but were stopped from operating when the coronavirus struck.
When Bataan was put under the modified enhanced community quarantine from the enhanced community quarantine status, 20 percent of the total workers were told to work in 37 companies.
There are reports that tricycles and other service vehicles were charging factory workers with high rates while some companies are poised to reduce their work force.
Ellorin said she will bring the matter to higher FAB authorities and will issue a statement.
The Mariveles freeport is the former Bataan Export Processing Zone, the first in the country that was later turned into the Bataan Economic Zone under the
Philippine Export Zone Authority and then into the FAB under the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan.
