MANILA — The country's premier military training institution has postponed the homecoming of its graduates this month as precaution against a novel coronavirus oubreak, its alumni association said Wednesday.

Initially set on Feb. 14-15, the supposed 2-day event in Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City will be shortened to one day and postponed to Feb. 22, said the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc.

Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, a graduate of the PMA class '82, and PMA Superintendent Allan Cusi backed the postponement of the annual event that usually draws around 2,000 graduates, said the PMAAAI.

"This is in deference to health and public safety concerns regarding nCoV," the group said, referring to the pathogen that has killed at least 580, mostly in China.

Magalong coordinated with Baguio hotel and restaurants, and there will be no surcharge or fee for rebooking reservations, added the PMAAAI.

The academy earlier said it would be shuttered to tourists until the third week of February due to concerns over the novel coronavirus.

The pathogen has infected over some 27,300 since emerging from Wuhan City in central China in December.