Pampanga rents Clark site

Capas, Tarlac—The provincial government of Pampanga is renting the National Government Administrative Center at the New Clark City here as an additional isolation area following a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in the province, the Provincial Information Office said in a statement.

Governor Dennis Pineda said the community isolation facilities established by the local government units are not enough to address the recent surge of COVID-19 patients in the province.

“Due to the recent increase of COVID-19 positive cases sa province, our isolation facilities are no longer sufficient,” Pineda said.

“Our LGUs are making the effort to set up their own community isolation facilities, but these are not enough. We are doing all possible means to keep the people healthy and safe from the threat of the virus.”

He said cubicles with 327 beds are on place to accomodate the people of Pampanga who will be diagnosed with COVID-19.

Pineda said hospitals and other quarantine facilities in Pampanga has already reached full capacity. The provincial government found the NGAC at Clark as an ideal place for isolation, he said.

Pampanga has recorded 818 COVID-19 positive cases on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. Of these, 417 test results are pending for validation, as 373 have recovered and 28 have died.

“This is a joint project of the provincial government of Pampanga with BCDA (Bases Conversion Development Authority) and Alloy MTD. In our current situation natin, there’s a quick increase in cases and this (NGAC) is the readily available facility,” the governor said.

Dr. Dax Tidula, incident commander of the facility, assured that the NGAC will be manned by doctors, nurses, and other personnel to assist and address the needs of the patients.

“The provincial government will be providing for the patients’ daily needs including three square meals, water, vitamins, and internet connection,” Tidula said.

The provincial government is also eyeing the evacuation center in Mexico, Pampanga as an alternative isolation area should the need arise.