PICC coronavirus facility turned over to PNP Medical Corps

The PICC health facility is set to accommodate a maximum of 294 COVID-19 patients. Image: Facebook/@dpwhph

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) turned over on Wednesday the recently completed COVID-19 facility at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Medical Corps.

The PICC Forum tent, set to cater to a maximum of 294 COVID-19 patients, is equipped with 294 patient cubicles and six nurse stations, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said Wednesday in a press release.

The temporary health facility had also been installed with the necessary equipment, such as hospital beds, IV stands, wheelchairs, defibrillators, as well as a mobile pharmacy and a portable X-ray machine.

Six smart houses outside the facility that will serve as temporary quarters for health workers have also been turned over to the PNP.

The conversion of the facility, done in partnership with the EEI and the Vista Land Group, was completed three days ahead of schedule, according to the DPWH.

The World Trade Center, also in Pasay City, has also been successfully converted into a temporary health facility outfitted with 500 beds. The facility was turned over to the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday. The Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila meanwhile had been accepting mild COVID-19 patients as a health facility since April 6.

Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Vince Dizon in a briefing on April 3 said that the government is eyeing 12 facilities in Metro Manila also to be converted into temporary isolation sites.

Other than the three said facilities, the others being converted are the FTI facility in Taguig City, Quezon Institute, PhilSports Arena in Pasig, Filinvest Tent in Alabang, Duty-Free Philippines in Parañaque, Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City, open areas in Quezon Memorial Circle, and the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.

Iglesia ni Cristo meanwhile had offered the entire 140-hectare Ciudad de Victoria estate in Bulacan, which houses the massive Philippine Arena, to the national government to serve as a temporary quarantine complex amid the pandemic.