NEW CLARK CITY, Tarlac — The first batch of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients composed of 50 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) arrived Thursday at the We Heal As One Center-National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) building in New Clark City.
“NGAC is one of the We Heal As One Centers put up by the government to reduce the community spread of the disease and decongest hospitals. In the quarantine center, COVID-positive patients are provided with 24/7 medical care, free meals, and free Internet connection,” Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Vince Dizon said.
The OFWs were transported to NCC through the cooperation of BCDA, Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Department of Transportation, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of Quarantine, Philippine Coast Guard and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 led by Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.
“The government’s top priority is to save more lives. These We Heal As One Centers will provide our OFWs with the care and treatment they need so they can recover from the disease, while also keeping their families safe by staying in these isolation facilities,” he added.
Dizon is also the deputy chief implementer of the National Action Plan Against COVID-19, and the chief coordinator of the Task Force T3 (Test, Trace, Treat).
Two residents of Tarlac province were also sent to the same facility on Thursday.
NGAC currently has 688 cubicles but the facility can still be expanded to accommodate up to 1,000 patients. It is manned by medical staff hired by BCDA and CDC under the supervision of DOH.
Other designated We Heal As One Centers in Central Luzon include the NCC Athletes’ Village (525 rooms), ASEAN Convention Center in Clark Freeport Zone (150 beds), and Philippine Arena complex in Bulacan (300 beds).