LAGING HANDA IN THE FAB. Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) Administrator Emmanuel D. Pineda joined Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in the Laging Handa Press Briefing held at the AFAB Auditorium on 01 October 2020. Bataan Governor Albert Garcia and Mariveles Mayor Jocelyn Castañeda also joined the said press briefing.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque paid a visit to the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) on 01 October 2020.

Administrator Pineda warmly welcomed Sec. Roque, including Mariveles Mayor Jocelyn Castañeda who joined the Secretary in the said visit which was incidental to the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) Team meeting scheduled by the Inter-Agency for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease National Task Force against COVID-19. Roque, with Pineda and Castañeda, discussed about the COVID-19 situation and other random topics on the spokesperson’s Bataan roots as they stayed in the office of the latter before the scheduled press briefing.

Pineda was also invited by the Spokesperson to join the press briefing with Bataan Governor Albert Garcia and Mayor Castañeda. In the said briefing, Pineda discussed how the FAB is trying to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

“Nung tinamaan po tayo ng pandemic, nagkaroon po ng matinding epekto at sa tulong nman po ng mga ahensya, ng ating provincial government at sa pakikipag-ugnayan din sa mga local government… unti-unti pong nanunumbalik at meron na po ngayong 83 operational companies at nasa more than 20,000 po yung nakabalik na na mga manggagawa,” (When the pandemic hit us, it has brought great effects and with the help of the agencies, our provincial government, and through communication with the local government…gradually recovering and now, we again have 83 operational companies and more than 20,000 workers have already returned.) Pineda said.

Pineda also updated on the active COVID-19 cases in the Freeport and explained that the increase in the cases can be attributed to the conducted expanded testing.

“Dumami po ito dahil nagconduct po tayo ng mass testing para po masiguro na maidentify yung mga asymptomatics…para maisolate kaagad sila at hindi na sila makapanghawa,” (This increased because we conducted mass testing to make sure asymptomatics are identified…to immediately isolate them and to avoid spread.) Pineda explained.

Meanwhile, three three-storey housing facilities built by AFAB for workers were converted with the help of the Provincial Government of Bataan (PGB) into a temporary isolation facility with 111 rooms. The third building shall also serve as a 96-bed isolation facility in response to the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) requirement to locators.

There are also two Red Cross tents that can admit 8 males and 8 females and two negative pressure tents that can house 20 patients.

Admin Pineda also commended Sec. Roque, Gov. Garcia, and Mayor Castañeda for going through the triage area and for following the health and safety protocols during their visit in the FAB.

AFAB