Some Capas residents no longer opposed to New Clark City quarantine

Some residents of Sitio Kamatis in Capas, Tarlac, the community beside the New Clark City, said they no longer had qualms about the use of the facility as a quarantine area for repatriates amid the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak.

In a 24 Oras report by Chino Gaston on Monday, some residents said their fears were allayed by authorities’ clarification that the quarantine would not pose any risk to their health.

“Medyo natakot po, siyempre hindi pa namin gaano naintindihan kung dadalhin sila dito e paano kami. E naipaliwanag naman po nang maayos,” Merdita Carr said.

“Siyempre ‘yung kunsensiya natin nakakaano, kung halimbawa may anak ako kagaya niyan, siyempre masasaktan din po ako,” Merlind Laxa added.

Another resident said he had conceded that there was nothing they could do against the quarantine.

“Wala na ako magagawa diyan, sumunod na lang tayo. Ang ano ko lang, suportahan nila ‘yung, kung ano ‘yung mga problema pang darating.”

Some 400 Filipinos will be repatriated on Tuesday from the coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan’s Yokohama Port.

The number of Filipinos aboard the ship who have tested positive for the virus rose to 59 on Monday.

Repatriates displaying symptoms of respiratory illness will be taken to a hospital for isolation, while those who are asymptomatic will be brought to the New Clark City for quarantine.

Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan earlier asked the Department of Health (DOH) to look for other possible quarantine facilities so that not all 400 repatriates will be taken to their city. 

“It should be a shared responsibility, hindi lang dapat Capas. Pino-propose namin… hatiin at dalhin sa ibang rehiyon to check na rin ang preparedness ng mga regional hospital natin at other government officials,” he said.

However, the DOH said doing so would be “risky” and “irrational” to indulge their request. 

“‘Di muna natin mapagbigyan ang local government official dahil gusto natin ma-contain muna natin, masiguro natin na very minimal ang exposure ng mga tao sa repatriates,” Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said. —Julia Mari Ornedo/NB, GMA News