Clark Freeport—More locators resumed operations since the start of General Community Quarantine (GCQ) last week, showing early signs of return to normalcy on allowed industries inside this Freeport.
Records from the CDC Business Development and Enhancement Group show that locators under Manufacturing/Supply Chain and Logistics, ICT/BPO, Restaurants & Fast Food, Retail Stores, Hospitals, Pharmacy, Gas Stations and Ancillary, Trading, Canteens and Banks have gradually increased in the past three months.
In the Manufacturing/Supply Chain and Logistics sector, 165 of 262 locators are now back in operation, while 11,043 of their employees have reported back to work. This shows a 50 percent and 74 percent increase, respectively, from when the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) were in place.
The ICT/BPO Industry has shown a 51 percent increase in operations since the ECQ and MECQ, with 59 out of 149 locators back to provide services. This sector posted a 70 percent increase in the workforce, with some 3,416 workers reporting for work, compared to when Pampanga was under ECQ and MECQ.
Restaurants have recorded a 30 percent increase in operations, with 26 out of 115 establishments now open. Meanwhile, 26 of 37 retail stores are now providing services, posting a 13 percent increase since ECQ and MECQ.
In the trading sector, 3 out of 5 establishments are now operating, while five canteens have opened their doors to provide services. Ten banks inside the Freeport have been operational since ECQ and MECQ, and an additional one bank in operation marks a 10 percent increase in operations.
Shopping malls have also been allowed to open but under limited operations.
These industries have begun operating following the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on the implementation of the GCQ.
The CDC believes that the easing of quarantine restrictions, which started on June 1, is a sound move for the economy. But it said there should be discipline in practicing health protocols inside the Freeport and in strictly observing the guidelines set down by the IATF-EID.
The number of operational firms are expected to increase as the situation starts to ease and guidelines become less restrictive, the state-run firm said.
In its GCQ protocols, CDC states that “all industries are allowed to operate except those categorized under leisure and recreation, gaming, fitness establishments, tourism industries, and all industries under Category 4.”
Meanwhile, companies which resumed their operations are required to strictly observe and follow health standards to ensure the safety and well-being of employees as they adapt to the 'new normal' in their workplaces.
CDC’s locators were allowed to have an initial 30 percent operational capacity and may be increased upon CDC’s evaluation of each company’s adherence to the health and safety procedures being carried out in this Freeport.
“Locator companies can operate from 30% capacity and will be allowed to increase based on existing conditions in workplaces that should consider social distancing and other health protocols,” the state-owned firm said.