MARIVELES, Bataan – Cases of COVID-19 in the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB), once the epicenter of pandemic here, continued to drop – going gradually to “new normal” in this state-owned freeport.

In a report yesterday (March 11), by FAB administrator Emmanuel Pineda said this was the latest record after the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) and its stakeholders worked on various initiatives to contain COVID-19.

Pineda said only 3 active cases are waiting for recovery from the virus.

Pineda attributed this to the mobile vaccination among the companies that the AFAB and the 1Bataan FABakuna Center jointly started on February 28, 2022 helped in making the vaccine more accessible to the workers in the ecozone.

Essilor Mfg. Phils. Inc., GN Power Dinginin Ltd. Co., and Mitsumi Phils., Inc. are among the companies that benefited from the mobile vaccination drives held.

Also, having the assistance of the AFAB-Public Health Unit (AFAB-PHU) Ambulance Team on contact tracing, quarantine or isolation, testing activities, and even the immediate transportation of COVID-19 patients has further helped the ecozone in the implementation of the prescribed initiatives.

Moreover, operations in the ecozone gradually showed improvement along with the continuous adherence to the minimum health and safety protocols.

Just this February, AFAB Chairman Pablo M. Gancayco and AFAB Administrator Pineda personally accompanied the former District Governors of Rotary International District 3780 to some companies in the FAB.

In his visit, Chairman Gancayco took the chance to see and assess the condition of both the workers and the production of the companies in the Freeport.

Atty. Ma. Dorothea “Dot” Gancayco and Deputy Speaker Bernadette “BH” Herrera (New Generation Party-list) also joined.

Port operations in FAB have also increased by 63% in the 609 vessel calls recorded in 2021.

Likewise, the number of workers in the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) is now about 10% higher at 37,379.

Presently, the FAB continues to have high hopes as it eyes further improvement in the status of the companies with the continuous decrease in the number of COVID-19 and the implementation of Alert Level 1 in Bataan.