INC hailed for offering Philippine Arena as quarantine site
Published Apr 5, 2020 12:00 am
By Ellson Quismorio
Ranking House of Representatives members thanked influential religious group Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) on Sunday for allowing the government to use its Philippine Arena complex in Bulacan as a "mega" quarantine facility for persons who may have been afflicted with COVID-19.
House of the Representatives (Facebook / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and his wife, Tingog Party-List Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez said the INC headed by Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo Manalo showed compassion with this gesture amid the common goal of defeating the pandemic.
“Our deep appreciation to the Iglesia Ni Cristo for another Christian and humanitarian initiative. Your inspiring vision and support in the government’s fight to eliminate COVID-19 is a very valued example that should be emulated by those who are in public service,” said the Romualdez couple in a statement.
Earlier, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President Vince Dizon bared that the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena at Ciudad de Victoria, Bocaue, Bulacan would be used to quarantine the growing number of positive cases. It is considered the world’s largest multi-purpose indoor arena with a floor area of 99,000 square meters.
The INC is also offering the Garden Suites, also part of the Bocaue complex, as housing area for health workers who would care for the patients.
On top of this, the INC is also providing personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other supplies to certain hospitals.
Cavite 4th district Rep. Elpidio Barzaga praised the religious faction for “another worthy and admirable act of helping the government eliminate the COVID-19 by allowing the use of Philippine Arena to house possible carriers of COVID-19.”
“This is a big boost in our efforts to defeat COVID-19. Thank you again INC for another great and noble deed,” said Barzaga, the chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Timely assistance
For her part, Quezon City 2nd district Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo called the INC's selfless act consistent with the group's tradition of helping the government and the people in times of emergencies.
“It is timely because the Department of Health (DOH) intends to go into mass-testing of suspected coronavirus carriers before the end of the 30-day enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) next weekend,” she said.
Castelo, a vice chairperson of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, was referring to the Palace-ordered ECQ of Luzon that took effect last March 17.
She pointed out that those who will test positive for the disease or at the very least manifest flu-like symptoms like coughing, fever, and chills would have to be isolated so as not to infect others.
“That is when quarantine facilities like the Philippine Arena would be needed, since hospitals are already full of patients,” she added.
According to INC official Glicerio Santos Jr., Executive Minister Manalo has directed the Church to go "all out” in helping the government prevent the spread of COVID-19 and treat those who have been infected.
“Ka Eduardo has told us that rather than face this threat with fear, we should confront it with action—and this is why the Church has chosen to help the government and our countrymen in any way we can,” Santos said.
READ MORE: INC offers Philippine Arena as COVID-19 mega quarantine facility
House of the Representatives (Facebook / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and his wife, Tingog Party-List Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez said the INC headed by Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo Manalo showed compassion with this gesture amid the common goal of defeating the pandemic.
“Our deep appreciation to the Iglesia Ni Cristo for another Christian and humanitarian initiative. Your inspiring vision and support in the government’s fight to eliminate COVID-19 is a very valued example that should be emulated by those who are in public service,” said the Romualdez couple in a statement.
Earlier, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President Vince Dizon bared that the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena at Ciudad de Victoria, Bocaue, Bulacan would be used to quarantine the growing number of positive cases. It is considered the world’s largest multi-purpose indoor arena with a floor area of 99,000 square meters.
The INC is also offering the Garden Suites, also part of the Bocaue complex, as housing area for health workers who would care for the patients.
On top of this, the INC is also providing personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other supplies to certain hospitals.
Cavite 4th district Rep. Elpidio Barzaga praised the religious faction for “another worthy and admirable act of helping the government eliminate the COVID-19 by allowing the use of Philippine Arena to house possible carriers of COVID-19.”
“This is a big boost in our efforts to defeat COVID-19. Thank you again INC for another great and noble deed,” said Barzaga, the chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Timely assistance
For her part, Quezon City 2nd district Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo called the INC's selfless act consistent with the group's tradition of helping the government and the people in times of emergencies.
“It is timely because the Department of Health (DOH) intends to go into mass-testing of suspected coronavirus carriers before the end of the 30-day enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) next weekend,” she said.
Castelo, a vice chairperson of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, was referring to the Palace-ordered ECQ of Luzon that took effect last March 17.
She pointed out that those who will test positive for the disease or at the very least manifest flu-like symptoms like coughing, fever, and chills would have to be isolated so as not to infect others.
“That is when quarantine facilities like the Philippine Arena would be needed, since hospitals are already full of patients,” she added.
According to INC official Glicerio Santos Jr., Executive Minister Manalo has directed the Church to go "all out” in helping the government prevent the spread of COVID-19 and treat those who have been infected.
“Ka Eduardo has told us that rather than face this threat with fear, we should confront it with action—and this is why the Church has chosen to help the government and our countrymen in any way we can,” Santos said.
READ MORE: INC offers Philippine Arena as COVID-19 mega quarantine facility