MEZ holds emergency response competition

CEBU, Philippines - Thirteen companies, including a shipyard company in Balamban town, participated in yesterday’s Mactan Export Zone Emergency Response Team competition at the MEZ Football field in Lapu-Lapu City.

The Emergency Response Team competition, now on its third year, was organized by the Mactan Export Processing Zone Safety and Security Council, Inc. headed by Roderick Richard Yanez of Fairchild Semiconductor Philippines, Inc.

Col. Nestor Bontol of Lexmark International Philippines, Inc. and Vice President of MEZSSCI told The Freeman that the Emergency Response Team Competition aims to enhance vigilance among the members of company emergency responders and fire brigades, attend to common first aid and rescue situations and promote awareness on emergency response among employees, management and community.

According to Bontol, different locators inside MEZ believe on the need to prepare at all times and train their employees for quick response especially during fire incidents.

Yanez, on the other hand, expressed his thanks to the locators of MEPZ including Tsuneishi Heavy Industries of Balamban town that participated and contributed to the success of the competition.

Yanez said yesterday’s affair was not only a competition but also aims to show the teamwork of employees in responding to fire incidents.

For his part, MEZ Administrator Sansaluna Pinagayao lauded the initiatives of Mactan Economic Zone Safety and Security Council Inc. in spearheading the competition.

Pinagayao said that fire takes no holiday as it can happen anytime. However, he said that it can be prevented if everybody will do his share.

Pinagayao said fire may happen because of electrical misuse or faulty electrical connection. He further said that in the seven fire incidents that happened within the five year period inside the MEZ, damage reached P110 million.

Robert Gerwig, Vice President of the Mactan Export Processing Zone Chamber of Exporters and Manufacturers, said that the yearly competition among emergency response teams of some locators is a big help to prevent fire.

Gerwig said that every employee inside MEZ should know how to respond to fires. Like Pinagayao, he also lauded the organizers of yesterday’s competition.

Organizers also expressed their thanks to the sponsors like the MEPZCEM, Total Innovative Security Solutions, Cyndys Marketing, Stel-Luc Trading, CP Newman Industries Corp., SS7, Gallegos Merchandising, Maritrans Recycling Inc. and RCR Fire Protection Systems Inc. — (FREEMAN)