Ecozone developers set up COVID testing facilities

Ecozone developers are setting up testing facilities as part of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

“Most of the PHILEA (Philippine Ecozones Association) members are gearing up to do this separately,” PHILEA president Francisco Zaldarriaga said in a text message.

“We at Carmelray already have our own on-site testing facilities doing rapid tests,” he said.

Individuals who will test positive for the virus would be referred to nearby hospitals.

He said PHILEA had conducted a webinar with private sector-led initiative Project Antibody Rapid test Kit (ARK) which is pushing for the conduct of mass testing in order to restart economic activity while promoting health and safety of the workforce.

He said the webinar was very informative and useful for the ecozones as Project ARK group discussed the importance of preliminary testing as well as templates for the actual execution of the process.

Under Project ARK, which is spearheaded by presidential adviser on entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, participating companies will test employees for COVID-19 using rapid test kits and have the option to sponsor the conduct of tests in barangays.

Companies can also donate PCR machines to hospitals under the project.

Earlier, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) director general Charito Plaza said the agency would establish its own COVID-19 testing facilities in public ecozones such as Baguio City Economic Zone, Pampanga Economic Zone, Cavite Economic Zone, and Mactan Economic Zone.

She said similar testing facilities would also be located in private economic zones to cater to workers.

“We are coordinating with the Department of Health for this program. We plan to provide both the rapid test kits and the PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test on the said facilities so that the companies will have a choice on either of the methods,” she said.

Apart from testing facilities, PEZA is setting up dormitories or housing facilities in the public ecozones and providing shuttles for locators.

“This will not only be used for emergencies, but also in coping with the locators’ losses during the crisis. We are encouraging the private ecozone operators to do the same to ensure the investors of a safe and secured Philippine ecozones,” Plaza said.