CLARK FREEPORT -- The Bases and Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has assured the people in communities around the Athletes' Village in New Clark City (NCC) of safety and protection.
The Athletes' Village of NCC will be used as quarantine area for Filipinos who are set to be repatriated from Hubei, China amid the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.
In an official statement sent to SunStar Pampanga, BCDA vice president for Corporate Communication Leilani Barlongay-Macasaet said the government will address all issues and concerns on the use of NCC as a quarantine area.
"We would like to assure the municipality of Capas and its officials that the National Government will address all the issues and concerns raised following the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to use New Clark City as a quarantine site for our repatriated kababayans," she said.
"All preventive and precautionary measures are being put in place by the taskforce not only for our repatriated kababayans, but to also ensure that the adjacent communities of New Clark City and all CapaseƱos are kept safe and protected," the BCDA added.
On Thursday, February 6, the BCDA said the NCC will provide the best condition for Filipino workers who will be repatriated from Hubei, the epicenter of the dreaded novel coronavirus.
"The Athletes' Village in New Clark City was designated by the government to be the site used for our repatriated kababayans from China as they undergo mandatory isolation," it said.
The agency stated that NCC was designed to be a resilient metropolis, and is ready for any and all situations, including those that concern public health.
The BCDA added that the country is fortunate that President Rodrigo Duterte fast-tracked the development of NCC as part of the administration's infrastructure development program.
"The facilities in the Athletes' Village will provide the best conditions for our overseas workers returning from China. We are happy to host them and contribute to the efforts taken by the government to assist our kababayans," the BCDA stated.
A polyclinic operated by the Philippine General Hospital is also located inside New Clark City and just two minutes away from the Athletes' Village.
The medical facility is equipped with a 24-hour Emergency Room Facility, Primary Care and Sports Medicine, Imaging Center (X-ray and Ultrasound), Diagnostic Laboratory and Pharmacy.
The NCC is located just 30 minutes away from the Clark International Airport where the repatriated Filipinos will land from China.
In line with the announcement made by the Department of Health, New Clark City has been placed on lockdown starting Thursday, February 6, until further notice.
The Philippine Sports Commission has already recommended the postponement of the 2020 Asean Para Games. Majority of the sporting events for the Para Games were scheduled to be held in New Clark City.