The Recovery Management Office (RMO) has announced the temporary cessation of ROC Access Card (RAC) issuances, effective from 4:30 pm today until further notice.

The RAC, introduced by the National Recovery Committee, was intended to grant business owners and immediate supervisors limited access to the restricted Central Business District (CBD) area for the sole purpose of inspecting their premises. The pass was never intended to authorize business operations within the CBD.

ROC Chairman John Ezra expressed disappointment upon discovering that some business owners with RACs have been using them to access their offices and resume business activities. He emphasized that this misuse must cease immediately to avoid further unnecessary restrictions.

Ezra also clarified that businesses can only resume operations in the CBD once occupancy certificates are issued by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, following the recommendations of the Structural Assessment Report.

“This is not on and must be stopped immediately. Such attitude can also prompt more restrictions that may not be necessary”, he told the media.

The police have been instructed to intervene and remove RAC from employers, as well as from supervisors or managers found involved in such activities.

At the same time, suspending the issuance of RAC will allow the ROC and the police to enhance their efforts in managing the movement of individuals into and out of restricted zones.