Letter to the Editor

09 March 2020

THE EDITOR/PUBLISHER
iOrbit News Online

Dear Sir:

Greetings.

Allow us first to thank iOrbit for its support to Clark Development Corporation. The online news portal has always been considered as our partner in reaching to the people with timely and relevant news.

We write regarding an article posted in your news website on March 5, 2020 titled ‘Clark food and music festival worries netizens.’

While there were no cited reactions or direct quotations that express apprehensions of any netizen in the said article, we would like to clarify that the Clark Development Corporation’s approval on the conduct of the ‘Clark food and music festival’ was in adherence to all the guidelines set by the national health agencies and the national government in responding to COVID-19.

On February 19, 2020, the Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Tourism (DOT) jointly issued a statement that allowed the conduct of public events and social gatherings and other events “as long as precautionary measures prescribed by the health department are observed.”

Signed by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año and Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, the statement was a clarification of the Feb. 7 advisory of the DOH on concerts and other public events and gatherings.

“(We) would like to assure everyone that it is safe to organize and attend public gatherings, meetings and festivals as long as all precautionary measures identified by the DOH are observed,” read the statement.

With such advisory and clarification and an assurance from the event organizers that proper protocols and precautionary measures to guard against COVID-19 are in place, CDC allowed the holding of Aurora 2020 supposedly scheduled on March 13 and 14 of this month. It was a decision grounded on prevailing national government’s guidance at that time.But with the new development and the declaration of State of Public Health issued by Malacanang, CDC issued today March 9, 2020 a memorandum circular stating its order to postpone the hosting of all scheduled public events in the Freeport. This is also in adherence to a new pronouncement of the national government, particularly Presidential Proclamation 922 where LGUs and government agencies have been empowered to “immediately act to prevent the loss of life, utilize appropriate resources to implement urgent and critical measures to contain or prevent the spread of COVID 19, mitigate its effects and impact to the community…”.

CDC is the regulatory unit for Clark Freeport.

With the issuance of the said circular, organizers of the ‘Clark food and music festival’ have also announced the deferment of the event and its move to a later date.

The safety and well-being of the public will always be our priority in the Clark Freeport Zone. And amid the threat of COVID-19, CDC will always be in the forefront to help in the prevention and further spread of this disease.

If we can provide you with any additional information, please let us know and feel free to contact us at (045) 599-6911.

We hope that we have shed light on this matter. Thank you for your usual support.

Sincerely,

NOEL G. TULABUT
Manager
CDC Communications Division

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