PEZA shifts transactions to online

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said all transactions with the agency will be conducted online until Friday next week amid the surge in COVID-19 infections in the country.

In a Viber message, PEZA director general Charito Plaza said those transacting with  the agency until Jan. 14 use its e-payment system and make applications online after its head office has been locked down for disinfection due to the surge of COVID-19 cases.

“In adherence to the heightened alert level in Metro Manila and as positivity rate is increasing especially in the Metro, our head office in DoubleDragon, Pasay City will undergo precautionary health and safety measures,” Plaza said.

Mass testing for PEZA employees would also be conducted in the head office and other economic zones.

To ensure safety, PEZA employees would be working from home pending the result of their reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

“While we remain devout in our sworn mandate, we also need to be part of the solution in mitigating the effects of this pandemic. This includes safeguarding the well-being of our workers and clients and avoiding close contacts or exposure to those either symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals,” Plaza added.

She gave reassurance to locators, registered enterprises, and investors that coordination between zone administrators, zone managers, employees, and concerned government agencies would be unhampered.

“PEZA remains one with the national government and private agencies in fighting this pandemic and helping in lessening the number of infections. Prioritizing the safety of everyone is our utmost goal especially that we are on Alert Level 3. Nevertheless, we continue to do our mandate in the alternative work schemes as this pandemic or new variant must not cripple us,” she said.

Areas currently under Alert Level 3 until Jan.15 include Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna.

Those being placed under Alert Level 3 from Jan. 9 to 15 are the provinces of Bataan, Batangas, Cagayan, Pampanga, Zambales, as well as the cities of Angeles, Baguio, Dagupan, Iloilo, Lapu-Lapu, Lucena, Naga, Olongapo and Santiago.