Gov’t approves use of 473 schools, 5 SUCs as quarantine facilities

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte holds a meeting with some members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on April 13, 2020. KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The national government has approved the use of 473 schools and five state universities and colleges (SUCs) as quarantine facilities as the country continues to grapple with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

President Rodrigo Duterte told Congress in his third weekly report that of the 209 requests from local government units (LGUs) concerning 1,198 of facilities to be used as quarantine or isolation areas, the Department of Education (DepEd) approved the use of 473 schools in 95 local government units.

“Other requests are either undergoing evaluation or awaiting additional documents for compliance,” Duterte’s report added.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) also approved the use of five SUCs as quarantine facilities.

Discussions for the possible use of two more SUC facilities for similar purposes have been set for this week, Duterte said in his report.

“The CHED has also created a Public Health Experts Group, consisting of experts in the field of medicine and public health, to provide technical assistance and guidance to SUCs and LGUs ensuring the safety of using SUC facilities as quarantine centers/community isolation units,” the report added.

As of Monday, Philippine health authorities have so far confirmed 4,932 COVID-19 cases in the country.

Of the number, 315 gave died while 242 have so far recovered.

Edited by JPV