Quarantine facility in Batangas not 5-star but sanitary, says NTF deputy chief Dizon

National Task Force Against COVID-19 deputy implementer Vince Dizon on Thursday maintained that the hotel in Batangas which is being used as a quarantine facility is sanitary, contrary to complaints of some returning Filipinos who were admitted there.

"Ito po ay maayos na hotel. Hindi lang po ito five-star hotel pero dahil nga po gusto nating tulungan ang ating mga kababayan, ito pong hotel na ito na ino-offer natin [sa mga] galing sa iba't ibang bansa kahapon. Ito po ay libre na pino-provide ng ating gobyerno," Dizon said during the Laging Handa press briefing.

The hotel has been designated as a quarantine facility for around three months now, he added.

Dizon also belied claims that arriving Filipinos and foreign nationals are being "hostaged" to stay in the said facility.

"Mayroon po kasing mga napabalita na hino-hostage daw po ang ating mga kababayan at ilang mga dayuhan, hindi naman po ito totoo. Ito po ay kasama sa mga napaka-istriktong mga kailangan nating gawin para mapigilan ang pagpasok ng bagong strain," he said.

All arriving Filipinos and foreign nationals are free to choose from hotels that are government-accredited but expenses for those with higher rates will not be shouldered by the government, according to Dizon.

"Puwede po silang pumili ng mas magandang hotel sa listahan ng DOH at ng National Task Force pero yung hotel po na yun na mapipili nilang mas maganda, sila na po ang magbabayad noon," he said.

"Kagabi, halos kalahati po ng mahigit 100 mga pasahero .... ay inilipat na po natin sa kanilang mga napiling hotel at nag-provide na rin po tayo ng transportation para sa kanila," he added.

Dizon's remarks came after some passengers who arrived earlier this week from the US and South Korea aired their dismay over a quarantine facility in Batangas which they claimed to be unsanitary and lacking water supply. — RSJ, GMA News