PH gov’t, private sector in rush to build field hospitals for COVID-19 cases

MANILA, Philippines—There’s a rush by the Philippine government and private sector to build field hospitals in Metro Manila and parts of Luzon to add bed capacity to a health system that’s starting to be overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients.

Venues which used to host sporting events, entertainment and conferences now lie empty as a result of tight community quarantine measures, and be converted into makeshift hospitals to make up for a shrinking bed capacity made smaller by a growing number of COVID-19 patients.

As of Sunday (April 12), the Philippine government’s official list showed 4,648 COVID-19 cases with 297 deaths and 197 recoveries.

The Ninoy Aquino Stadium with a 112-bed capacity will open on Monday (April 13). The Rizal Memorial Stadium that can handle 120 patients has yet to announce when it would start operations.

The private sector groups Prime BMD and Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc, of companies owned by ports tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., fast-tracked the conversion of the Ninoy Aquino Stadium quarantine facility and completed it in about a week.

The Philippine International Convention Center, which can accommodate 294 patients, and the World Trade Center, which has a 502-bed capacity will start accepting patients on Wednesday (April 15).

All the facilities have air-conditioned cubicles with plug-in outlets, free food for patients and medical staff, free internet and round-the-clock medical assistance, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority said. The facilities will cater to patients with mild or no symptoms.

The Asean Convention Center in Clark, Pampanga province is expected to house 150 patients. The Athletes Village in New Clark City is seen to cater to around 500 patients, while the National Government Administrative Center also in New Clark City can handle around 1,000 patients.

The Philippine Arena, the world’s largest indoor arena in Bulacan province owned and run by Iglesia Ni Cristo, would also be converted into a “mega quarantine” facility with 2,000 patients.

The BCDA said it would also transform the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City and the Filinvest Tent in Alabang, Muntinlupa into quarantine facilities.

President Rodrigo Duterte last week extended a lockdown in Luzon until April 30 upon recommendation by the Inter Agency Task Force on COVID-19 which saw a need to further restrict the movement of people to contain the disease. It was supposed to end on April 12.

Edited by TSB