LA UNION – Hindi sang-ayon si Capas, Tarlac Mayor Rey Catacutan na gawing quarantine area ang New Clark City (NCC) para sa mga repatriated Filipino workers na magmumula Hubei, China.
Base sa official statement na inilabas ng alkalde, sinabi nito na hindi ikinonsulta ng Department of Health (DOH) ang plano ng mga ito sa pamahalaang pambayan ng Capas.
Ayon pay kay Mayor Catacutan, alam naman nila na ang Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) ang may hurisdiksyon sa New Clark City, ngunit makikiusap o umaapela sila kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at Health Secretary Francisco Doque III na humanap na lamang ng ibang pook para gagawing quarantine area.
“While it is true that I, as a Filipino, am in favor of the repatriation of OFWs from the province of Hubei, China, I feel perturbed by the fact that Department of Health (DOH) did not at all, in any way, involve the Capas LGU in its last-minute decision for New Clark City Capas to be used as quarantine zone for these Persons under Monitoring (PUMs). We acknowledge that the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has full jurisdiction over NCC, but I, as the Mayor of Capas, appeal in behalf of all Capaseños to our dear President Rodrigo Duterte and DOH Secretary Francisco Duque to consider another place or facility as isolation area,” bahagi pa ng statement ni Mayor Catacutan
Dahil dito, inaasahan na magkakaroon ng emergency session ang konseho ng bayan ng Capas upang talakayin ang naturang plano ng DOH.
Ilang residente rin ng bayan ang nagpaplanong magsagawa ng kilos protesta upang tutulungan ang balakin ng DOH.
Ang New Clark City ay nauna nang ginamit ng mga atleta sa ginanap na SEA Games noong nakaraang taon.
Para naman sa BCDA tiniyak nito na walang dapat ikabahala ang mga taga-Tarlac sa pagtukoy sa NCC bilang quarantine site.
“All preventive and precautionary measures are being put in place by the Task Force not only for our repatriated kababayans, but to also ensure that the adjacent communities of New Clark City and all Capaseños are safe and protected,” bahagi pa ng statement ng BCDA.
Ang DOH ay nakipagdayalog na rin nitong araw sa mga lokal na opisyal.
