CEZA Mobilizes Support Post-Typhoon Marce and Ofel

CEZA Head, Sec. Katrina Ponce Enrile, personally led the CEZA Quick-Response Team (QRT) to make sure that relief operations and post-disaster recovery were in order post- Marce and -Ofel.

A large part of the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport (CEZSFP) was severely impacted by Typhoons Marce and Ofel, which struck the country back-to-back this November. These powerful storms caused significant damage to infrastructure and displaced numerous communities. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. However, recognizing the urgent need for assistance, Sec. Katrina Ponce Enrile, Administrator and CEO of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), quickly directed the CEZA team to provide immediate relief and support for the recovery efforts.

True to her word, Sec. Enrile personally led the CEZA team in these efforts. In the aftermath of Typhoon Marce, the priority was saving lives. CEZA’s Quick Response Team (QRT) was expanded, with additional personnel assigned to provide 24/7 support. In coordination with local authorities and uniformed personnel, search-and-rescue operations were launched, and pre-emptive evacuations were carried out in flood-prone areas. Evacuation centers were carefully monitored to ensure displaced families had access to food, water, medical assistance, and safe shelter.

Sec. Enrile also worked with various support groups to bolster the relief efforts. “We reallocated part of our funds originally intended for corporate giveaways to support the relief operations. This allows us to maximize our assistance efforts, despite having limited corporate funds,” she explained passionately.

Alongside CEZA’s own efforts, generous donations from individuals, CEZA locators, and local non-government organizations (NGOs) flooded in. These donations included essential goods such as food, clean water, blankets, hygiene kits, and clean but used clothing. These items were quickly packed and distributed to those affected by Typhoons Marce and Ofel.

The relief efforts went hand-in-hand with recovery operations aimed at restoring vital infrastructure. To facilitate the swift delivery of supplies and reconnect affected communities, CEZA deployed heavy equipment to clear debris blocking roads and bridges. Destroyed infrastructure were also repaired in coordination with local government units (LGUs) and other agencies. In areas where families lacked the funds to rebuild, CEZA, with the support of donors, provided GI sheets for the reconstruction of homes, schools, and community facilities in the Santa Ana district.

Additionally, CEZA coordinated with its locators to offer job opportunities to those in affected communities. “Even in the midst of a disaster, typhoon victims can recover more effectively—both financially and psychologically—if they have jobs to rely on,” said Sec. Enrile. “Recognizing this, CEZA worked with our locators to provide these opportunities.”

As part of its ongoing corporate social responsibility initiatives, CEZA continues to support its communities in various ways. Although disaster preparedness and response are long-term processes, CEZA’s efforts reflect its unwavering commitment to empowering and improving the future of its communities. This commitment aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision of “Bagong Pilipino, Bagong Pilipinas.”

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