Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III lamented how several provinces opposed the plan of the government to put a quarantine center for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) coming from Wuhan, China.

Duque said that it seems that the ‘Bayanihan’ spirit of the Filipinos already lost amid the 2019-novel coronavirus scare.

“Nakakalungkot… lahat ng pinuntahan ko puros na lang kontra, kontra yung komunidad. Sabi ko ‘Sinong mangangalaga sa kapwa nating Pilipino kundi Pilipino din?'” said in a radio interview on Friday.

The health secretary tried to convince the residents near the places being eyed as a quarantine site like Capas, Tarlac should not worry about being infected by 2019 nCoV.

“I-lolock down naman nila, wala namang problema sa pangamba na baka malagay sa alanganin ang mga komunidad,” he said.

He insisted that it’s impossible for the nCoV to reach far places because the mode of transmission of the virus is not airborne but respiratory droplets.

"Huwag ho kayong mangangamba." Tiniyak ni Health Secretary Francisco Duque na hindi makakahawa sa mga karatig-lugar ang mga Pinoy mula Hubei, China na iku-quarantine sa Athletes' Village sa New Clark City. #nCoV #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/1Cak4RWLTb

— DZMM TeleRadyo (@DZMMTeleRadyo) February 7, 2020

“Wala pong tsansa na ito ay makahawa sa mga kababayan natin o sa mga karatig barangay o bayan natin, wag po kayong mangamba,” he said.

Duque said the President chose the Athlete’s Village in New Clark City as a quarantine site because it’s an isolated area and also complete with facilities.

However, the Mayor of Capas, Tarlac, the nearest municipality near the New Clark City opposed the plan of the government amid fears that his people might get infected by 2019-nCoV.

“We acknowledge that the Bases Conversion and Development Authority has full jurisdiction over NCC, but I, as the Mayor of Capas, appeal in behalf of all Capaseños to our dear President Rodrigo Duterte and DOH Secretary Francisco Duque to consider another place or facility as isolation area,” Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan said on Friday.

It seems that the Pampanga is already preparing if ever that more provinces are going to reject the OFWs from Wuhan, China.

On a Facebook post, blogger Paulo Gee Santos posted several pictures of truck containers being converted to mini rooms claiming that Pampanga Governor Delta Pineda is already building facilities to quarantine the Kabalen OFWs from Wuhan, which is considered as the epicenter of 2019 novel coronavirus.

It showed that the rooms are spacious and also have air conditioners.

According to Santos, the preparation of Pineda may remove the fear among the people of Pampanga about the risk of getting infected by 2019-nCoV if ever that they’re going to welcome the OFWs from China.

“Nakakataba ng puso na dito sa amin sa Pampanga napaka-swabe ng pakikitungo ng aming Gobernador sa nCoV. Parang gameball lang ang handling ni Gov Dennis Delta Pineda, pinaigting niya ang depensa at tinatanggal ang daga sa dibdib ng mga Cabalen,” said Santos.

“Oo nga naman, iyung iba kasi gigil sa pagdribol, hindi pa nga naipapasa sa kanila ang bola, grabe na ang angas sa opensa,” he added.

“Pagpasa-pasahan man ang mga OFW na galing Hubei China, susmaryosep eto siya buong buo ang loob na magbigay ng assistance sa mga pinagdidribble na quarantine sites ng mga bagong bayani!” he also said.

Unlike in Tarlac, it seems that the netizens of Pampanga are very welcoming to the OFWs.

“Ginagawa lahat ni Pampanga Gov Pineda ang posible paraan para makatulong sa kapwa tao. Ewan lang sa tarlac kung ano balak nila dun sinusuka nila mga kapwa nila,” Alexis Tiangco Panlilio said.

“Pampanga! di uurungan ang laban. Kahit na Ncov,” Joel Navarro said.

“We salute you gov…godbless team delta kmi…we are so proud of you gov,” Krusher Caoleng.

Yesterday, Governor Pineda said that he’s willing to welcome the OFWs coming from Wuhan China if ever that more provinces are going to reject them.

“If walang gustong tumanggap sa inyo, nandito ang Pampanga para po sa inyo,” Pineda said.

“We’re open na tulungan sila. We’ll provide the facilities, right personnel to handle them with proper coordination with DOH, Bureau of Quarantine, Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital, and the provincial government,” he added.

The people of Tarlac suggested the national government to bring the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Wuhan to President Duterte’s hometown, Davao City, instead of putting them in New Clark City near Capas.

On the post of Capas Information Office, it can be shown that people of the said municipality are thankful for their mayor, Reynaldo Catacutan who publicly opposed the plan of the government to set a quarantine zone in New Clark City.

According to some netizens from Tarlac, if the President wanted to take care of the OFWs from Wuhan, he should let them stay in Davao City instead of putting them in other provinces, saying that his bailiwick is a big place.

“A BIG NO to NCC (New Clark City) Quarantine!!! Bring it instead to Davao…Thanks to our Beloved Mayor! God bless us all Capaseños!” netizen Nitz Mendoza Caliolio

“Sa davao lawak ng davao, dun u dalhin,” May Lenon Arandia commented.

A netizen also suggested that the people of Tarlac should organize a rally to show their opposition on the plan of the government.

“Dapat magsagawa ng RALLY PROTEST tyong mga mamayan ng capas at kalapit bayan natin para mapigilan na gawin quarantine ang bayan natin as soon as possible,” netizen Ariel Sigua said.

Another resident of Capas said that they know the sacrifice of the OFWs, but they doubt that Capas can handle the situation once the coronavirus spread to their municipality.

“Naiintindihan po natin mga kababayan natin ng sakrapisyo sa ibang bansa.. kawawa naman sila prang pinagtatabuyan.. sana maintindihan nlang din po nila na wala tayo sapat na pera para pang pagamot.. hirap din po isakarapisyo mga pamilya natin sa Capas. Sana wag po sana Capas.. malapit lang kmi jan sa new clark city.. sa brgy .cristo rey lang kmi.. Mayor Reycat salamat sana totoo at makahanap pa sila ng ibang pwede mapupuntahan,” Capas Serama Birds said.\

Netizen Marilou Vergara also pointed out that the government should consult the people of Capas before deciding to put the OFWs in New Clark City.

“It is just proper that the people of capas be consulted on the matter. Mayor catacutan is right, while we dont object for the repatriation, the health of the local resident will be at risk. This is not a totally isolated area. People come and go, are not prepared what might happen eventually. Please spare us also,” she said.

Capas Tarlac Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan on Friday publicly opposed the plan of the government to bring all the rescued OFWs from China to New Clark City.

“We acknowledge that the Bases Conversion and Development Authority has full jurisdiction over NCC, but I, as the Mayor of Capas, appeal in behalf of all Capaseños to our dear President Rodrigo Duterte and DOH Secretary Francisco Duque to consider another place or facility as isolation area,” he said.

Catacutan said that they’re not informed about the plan of the government.

“I feel perturbed by the fact that the Department of Health (DOH) did not at all, in any way, involve the Capas LGU in its last-minute decision for New Clark City Capas to be used as a quarantine zone for these Persons under Monitoring,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Pampanga province said that they’re ready to handle the OFWs if more places are going to reject them.

President Rodrigo Duterte officially ordered the cancellation of the Visiting Forces Agreement Friday.

On a text message, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Duterte already ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to send the United States an official letter to inform them that they want to end the VFA already.

“I instruct the Executive Secretary to tell him [Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.] to send the notice of termination to the US government,” Panelo said.

Panelo also revealed that President Rodrigo Duterte and U.S leader Donald Trump are “expected to talk” about still not yet known.

However, there’s already speculated that the two leaders might talk about the VFA.

Duterte first revealed his plan to scrap VFA after the US canceled the visa of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa who’s a long-time ally of the President without any explanation.

“I am warning you kapag hindi ninyo ginawa ang correction diyan (if you don’t issue a correction) I will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement… Tapusin ko iyan p*t*ng*n* iyan (I will end that). I am giving notice and they begin to count. I am giving government and the American government one month from now,” Duterte said in a speech a few weeks ago.

Defense Secretary Lorenzana said that he’s going to support President Duterte’s plan to end the VFA despite his stand.

“The pros and cons were laid out and it is clear that we also benefit in terms of grants from the VFA. But the President, as the ultimate authority on foreign relations, has decided. And whatever he decides on this matter has my unqualified support.” he said.

DFA Secretary Locsin also pointed out that the Philippines might lose billions-worth of assistance from the US.

“While the Philippines has the prerogative to terminate the VFA anytime, the continuance of the Agreement is deemed to be more beneficial to the Philippines compared to any benefits were it to be terminated,” he said.

They still need to wait for 180 days before the VFA termination becomes effective.

Pampanga expressed their willingness to take care of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Wuhan, China, who are set to put in quarantine once they enter the Philippine territory.

After being opposed by several provinces like Cavite, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac, Governor Dennis Pineda of Pampanga said that they have the capacity to quarantine the OFWs from Hubei Province in China in case that more places are going to reject them.

“If walang gustong tumanggap sa inyo, nandito ang Pampanga para po sa inyo,” Pineda said during seminar against 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV).

“We’re open na tulungan sila. We’ll provide the facilities, right personnel to handle them with proper coordination with DOH, Bureau of Quarantine, Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital, and the provincial government,” the governor added.

Pineda made the statement after Capas Tarlac Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan opposed the plan of the government to bring all the rescued OFWs from China to New Clark City.

“We acknowledge that the Bases Conversion and Development Authority has full jurisdiction over NCC, but I, as the Mayor of Capas, appeal in behalf of all Capaseños to our dear President Rodrigo Duterte and DOH Secretary Francisco Duque to consider another place or facility as isolation area,” he said.

Catacutan said that they’re not informed about the plan of the government.

“I feel perturbed by the fact that the Department of Health (DOH) did not at all, in any way, involve the Capas LGU in its last-minute decision for New Clark City Capas to be used as a quarantine zone for these Persons under Monitoring,” he stated.

According to DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III, they chose the New Clark City as the quarantine area because of its facilities and location.

“We plan to bring back our fellow Filipinos here in the country as seamlessly and efficiently as possible. Procedures were set into place from the moment our OFW kababayans board the plane up until their arrival,” he said.

The OFWs are required to be isolated for 14 days.

The police officer who got spat by a Chinese national caught for trying to escape law enforcers and possessing shabu made a statement regarding the said incident.

In an interview, Police Staff Sergeant Alan Escramosa said that the Chinese who’s still not being named did not only disrespected him, but also the whole organization of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Kawalan po siya ng respeto. Andito po tayo sa bansa natin – nasa Pilipinas po tayo, naka-uniporme po ako sa oras na ‘yun. Gawan niya ‘ko ng eksena ng pandudura, parang hindi naman po ako ‘yung dinuraan niya, ‘yung buong Philippine National Police,” Escramosa said.

The Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) on Thursday said that they first saw the suspect driving his vehicle around Binondo and they tried to stop him there for not following the number coding of the city, however, the Chinese national started to flee the authorities.

The suspect even crashed to several vehicles he approached while escaping the simple violation he committed, and they found out why he’s desperately trying to flee the law enforcers.

When they cornered the Chinese national along Tayuman and Abad Santos, they discovered a sachet of shabu.

Authorities are also having a hard time communicating with him because he’s not speaking English.

The suspect is expected to face multiple charges.

The incident has gone viral on the internet and coincidentally, many Chinese nationals are also being criticized for the 2019 novel coronavirus.