LOOK: Presidential yacht BRP Ang Pangulo now ready to accept first COVID-19 patients

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy said Sunday it was now prepared to accept coronavirus patients onboard presidential yacht BRP Ang Pangulo (ACS-25).

The announcement came more than a week after President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered the Navy to convert the vessel, currently docked in Davao City, into a hospital ship.

“Ang Philippine Navy inalert ko, sabi ko ‘yung mga barko ninyo na magaganda, ‘yung Ang Pangulo…Sabi ko sa Navy, gawing ospital agad,” the President said on April 3.

The Philippine government has recently been converting several stadiums and conventions in Metro Manila and northern Luzon into quarantine facilities to alleviate the burden on hospitals overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases.

The BRP Ang Pangulo can handle up to 28 coronavirus patients with five medical personnel, Navy’s public affairs acting director Lt. Cmdr. Ma. Christina Roxas said in a statement.

A 3-meter distance will be strictly observed between patients and different entry points will be made for the patients and medical staff, she added.

Three exclusive compartments were prepared by Navy personnel for the patients with a temporary division in place.

“Remodelling of the ship began within 48 hours following President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement to utilize the ship for coronavirus patients,” Roxas said.

The ship’s crew will remain on board but they will remain sealed off from the space taken up by patients.

“They were already provided with PPEs while rapid antibody tests were conducted,” Roxas said.

In 2016, the President planned to sell the yacht and use the proceeds for the benefit of war veterans, improve hospital facilities, among others.

But because there are procedures in disposing government assets, Duterte had said he would turn it into a floating hospital for conflict-hit areas instead.