Forest Hills, Southwoods rapid tests: Negative

MANILA, Philippines – In line with the government’s healthy and safety protocols, Forest Hills Golf and Country Club has wrapped up its rapid testing on its workforce, aimed at ensuring the club will be COVID-19 free when it reopens next month.

“We want to guarantee our members that the club is COVID-19-free,” said Raymond Bunquin, general manager of the club in Antipolo.

“And it’s not just FH employees but also our caddies without them having to worry about the cost,” he added.

The testing, supervised by Forest Hills physician Dr. Glendale Garalde, yielded no positive results.

A number of top golf courses, including Orchard and Eagle Ridge in Cavite, resumed operations over the weekend and last Monday, along with those in the provinces where lockdown restrictions have been eased up last May 16.

Manila Southwoods, meanwhile, has also deferred plans to reopen, stressing they still need time to prepare in accordance to the protocols and guidelines of the LGU (local government unit) and the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force), including rapid testing among its employees and caddies and other workers.

“We have tested 40 key staff and all negative,” said Southwoods golf director Jerome Delariarte.

Forest Hills golf director Jude Eustaquio also said the club is in the process of communicating the “new normal” setup from the Department of Health and aligning it with its policies to guarantee that the entire workforce will be ready by the time the club welcomes back its members and guests.