The local government unit (LGU) of Capas, Tarlac finally agreed to the plan of the government to make the Athlete’s Village in the New Clark City as the quarantine area for the repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Wuhan, China.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Vice Mayor Roseller Rodriguez of Capas, Tarlac said that they already met with the officials of the Department of Health (DOH) and they talked about the concerns of the residents near the New Clark City.
According to him, they were assured by the DOH that the people around the area will be safe because the New Clark City is going to be lockdown.
Before agreeing to the national government’s plan, Capas LGU also set some conditions to assure the safety of its residents from the possible spread of 2019 novel coronavirus in their municipality.
“The first condition is, they will only be the batch, we will no longer accommodate another batch (of OFWs) the second condition is to make sure that the duration of the quarantine will be only 14 days, and number three is there will be a representative from the LGU inside the athlete’s village to ensure that they’re complying with the protocol,” said Rodriguez.
They also requested a medical clinic in the middle of the athlete’s village and the nearest community in the athlete’s village to show to the people that they should not be afraid of getting infected.
Capas, Tarlac Vice Mayor Roseller Rodriguez speaks to CNN Philippines about the return of several OFWs from Wuhan, China who are to be quarantined at The Athletes' Village in New Clark City amid the novel coronavirus outbreak #CNNPHNewsroomWeekend https://t.co/msCLmwV0u6 pic.twitter.com/9qPosT9TCm
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) February 8, 2020
Rodriguez pointed out that the number one concern of the people in Capas is the possible leak of 2019-nCoV to their community.
“Probably due to lack of information and dissemination, it’s a common fear that they might get infected, they think that its airborne and they’re very near the athlete’s village the fear of getting infected is always present,” he said.
Yesterday, a group of Capas residents organized a rally to express their opposition over the plan of the national government.