Ecozones tweak rules amid Taal

We must be strict in the enforcement of the geohazard laws and the environmental clearance certificate compliance by the ecozone developers, factories, utilities and facilities

The recent Taal Volcano eruption pushed the state investments promotions body Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to initiate measures to tighten compliance to existing policies to secure businesses and employees from natural and man-made calamities.

The calamity brought by the natural event primarily affected the Calabarzon region that houses majority of PEZA’s ecozones and locators. The region also produces 50.97 percent of exports generated by PEZA-registered firms.

In a news statement on Friday, PEZA assured that its ecozones did not suffer damages in its structure and operations amid the Taal volcano’s activities, given that the ecozones are located away from disaster-prone areas as is required.

Still, PEZA director general Charito Plaza said the agency will “be more precautious in requiring ecozone development and masterplanning” to protect businesses from hazards and danger-prone areas.

“We must be strict in the enforcement of the geohazard laws and the environmental clearance certificate compliance by the ecozone developers, factories, utilities and facilities construction applicants,” Plaza said.

Continuity plans a must

Plaza added that locators will now be required to form their business-continuity plans outlining how the companies conduct their businesses should they face events such as the volcano’s ongoing activity.

Moreover, she said PEZA is launching a program to prepare industry workers as disaster and emergency responders.

Plaza noted that among the agency’s plans is to form its own incident command system and center where ecozones, industries, workers and other stakeholders could source information and direction in times of natural or man-made disasters and emergencies.

Meanwhile, PEZA assured that business sentiment in Southern Tagalog “remains positive” as developers are compliant with government requirements, including the environment compliance certificate issued by the Department of Environment and Natural

Resources.

60 ecozones in operation

PEZA has 60 ecozones registered under it in Calabarzon as March 2019, the bulk of which, or 59 ecozones, were privately developed.