PALAYAN CITY – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Nueva Ecija on Monday passed a resolution requesting the Department of Health to reconsider its plan to make the mega Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DATRC)in Fort Magsaysay a quarantine zone.
The motion was made by 2nd District board member Joseph Ortiz amid the absence of a formal communication from the DOH to the provincial government.
Ortiz said his motion was a representation of sentiments of the people of Nueva Ecija who have readily expressed fear and opposition to the plan.
Vice Gov. Antonio Umali, presiding officer, acknowledged the facility is owned by the national government thus their resolution was just a “polite expression” of opposition on humane consideration.
The SP members were apprehensive that the DATRC is not actually isolated and near densely populated villages and the facilities were not designed for purposes of containing viruses.
The provincial government, the board members said, is one with the national government as well as the returning Filipinos from China but the province was not yet prepared for this particular concern.
The resolution was unanimously approved by the 13 members present.
