Lawmakers on Sunday praised the leadership of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) led by its Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, for allowing the conversion of its colossal Philippine Arena into a quarantine facility for coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) cases.
House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez said they are grateful to INC for its effort to help the government defeat COVID-19.
“Our deep appreciation to the Iglesia ni Cristo for another Christian and humanitarian initiative. Your inspiring vision and support in government’s fight to eliminate COVID-19 is a very valued example to emulate by those who are in public service,” said the Romualdez couple.
Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Vince Dizon earlier announced that the INC has allowed the use of the Philippine Arena as quarantine facility.
Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., president of the National Unity Party (NUP), lauded the INC 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, chairman of the House committee on natural resources.
Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu welcomed the “selfless act” of INC that he said would contribute greatly to efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“Our heartfelt gratitude to INC for always in the forefront of another big battle to save the country and the world from COVID pandemic,” said Abu.
Quezon City Rep. Precious Castelo lauded the offer, saying that this is a “gesture of a selfless act that is consistent with INC’s tradition of helping the government and the people in times of emergencies like this.”
“It is timely because the Department of Health intends to go into mass testing of suspected coronavirus carriers before the end of the 30-day enhanced community quarantine next weekend,” said Castelo.
Castelo pointed out that those who test positive for the disease or who manifest flu-like symptoms like coughing, fever and chills would have to be isolated so they would not infect others.
“That is when quarantine facilities like the Philippine Arena would be needed, since hospitals are already full of patients,” she added.
Aside from the arena, which has a floor area of about 99,000 square meters, the INC is offering the Garden Suites, also part of the Bocaue complex, as housing for health workers who would care for suspected virus carriers.
In addition to the offer, the INC is also providing personal protective equipment and other supplies to certain hospitals.
According to INC official Glicerio Santos Jr., Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo has directed the church to be “all out” in helping the government prevent the spread of COVID-19 and treat those infected.
