50 infected OFWs in New Clark City

MANILA, Philippines — Fifty overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 were taken for treatment to the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) building in New Clark City (NCC) in Capas, Tarlac on Thursday.

”The NGAC is one of the We Heal As One Centers put up by the government to reduce the spread of the disease and decongest hospitals,” Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Vince Dizon said.

Dizon, who is also deputy chief implementer of the National Action Plan Against COVID-19, said two residents of Tarlac were sent to the same facility, also on Thursday. 

He said the OFWs were transported to the COVID-19 facility with the assistance of the Clark Development Corp., Department of Transportation, Overseas Workers Welfare Administra-tion, Department of Health, Bureau of Quarantine, Philippine Coast Guard and National Task Force Against COVID-19 led by Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. 

Dizon said there are 688 cubicles in NGAC, which could be expanded to accommodate up to 1,000 patients.

The NCC Athletes’ Village, which has 525 cubicles; ASEAN Convention Center at the Clark Freeport Zone, with 150 beds, and Philippine Arena in Bulacan, with 300 beds are the other We Heal As One Centers in Central Luzon.

No quarantine

Meanwhile, Department of Health (DOH)-Central Visayas office director Jaime Bernadas said the 43 OFWs who arrived in Cebu on Friday would not be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine.

Bernadas said the OFWs presented certificates that they completed their 14-day quarantine in Manila and were found negative for the virus.

“They can be endorsed to their respective LGUs (local government units). Their barangay health response team will monitor them at their home,” Shelbay Blanco of the DOH regional office said.

Marlou Salazar, Office of Civil Defense-Central Visayas director, said more OFWs are expected to return to Cebu. 

“We are ready. We hope that the process will be observed,” Salazar said. – Ric Sapnu, Mitchelle Palaubsanon/The Freeman