MABALACAT CITY -- The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has clarified that it did not issue a memorandum imposing a 14-day quarantine period for travelers arriving from more than 20 countries affected by the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCov).
"We would like to clarify that the said infographic was not issued by this department and that our policy as of today is that the strict implementation of the 14-day quarantine provided in DILG Memo Circular 2020-023 (Amended Guide to Action Against the 2019 Novel Coronavirus) refer only to travelers from China, Hong Kong, and Macau," the DILG stated on its official social media account.
Travelers from other nCoV-affected countries may undergo voluntary quarantine, the agency clarified.
DILG advised the public to follow official announcements that are posted in their website (www.dilg.gov.ph) and official social media accounts (DILG Philippines).
The first batch of repatriated Filipinos from Wuhan City, China, which is the epicenter of 2019-nCoV, are expected to arrive in Clark Sunday, February 9, 2020.
The government designated New Clark City (NCC) as the site for the Overseas Filipino Workers who will undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has assured the officials of Capas town, where the NCC is situated, 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 the site as an isolation area for repatriated Filipinos.
"All preventive and precautionary measures are being put in place by the task force not only for our repatriated Kababayans but also to ensure that the adjacent communities of New Clark City and all Capasenos are kept safe and protected," the BCDA stated.