DPWH eyes to finish 23 quarantine sites in Metro Manila by end of August

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways is targeting to complete the construction of additional 23 quarantine facilities in Metro Manila by the end of August for coronavirus disease 2019 patients with mild symptoms.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, also the government’s chief isolation czar, said Monday that the department is expediting the construction of the additional facilities, citing the urgency of these projects as some hospitals in Metro Manila reach full capacity for COVID-19 patients. 

“Our DPWH team is working on expediting the construction of isolation facilities that can accommodate patients with mild symptoms so that severe and critical cases can be prioritized in NCR hospitals,” Villar said in a statement.

According to Villar, the quarantine sites will be composed of eight facilities in Quezon City, four in Pasay City, two in Pateros, and one each in Manila, Marikina, Parañaque, Makati, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Muntinlupa, Malabon, and Navotas, with total capacity of 2,417 beds.

In Quezon City, the ongoing projects include: the 270-bed facility at the Tandang Sora Senior High School, 427 beds at Emilio Jacinto Senior High School in Pasong Tamo, 44 beds at the converted container van at Quezon City General Hospital, 64 beds at the converted container van at Quezon City University, and 16 beds converted container van at the House of Representatives.

Villar said the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Hospital Compound, Quezon Institute Hospital Compound, and Camp Aguinaldo Hospital Compound will also have an additional 48-bed facility each.

Meanwhile, Pasay City will soon have a 172-bed converted container van near W Mall along Macapagal Avenue, a 72-bed facility at the Villamor Airbase, a 70-cubicle facility at Pasay City Sports Complex with two nurse stations, and a 276-bed facility at Folk Art Theater with five nurse stations.

Additional facilities will also be completed in Pateros including the two 64-bed facilities with four health worker rooms at Ramos Pateros Elementary School and in another unidentified site.

The DPWH chief also said that a new 58-bed facility at Manuel L. Quezon University in Manila City with two nurse stations is also underway along with the 124-bed facility at Barangay Nangka, Marikina, a 56-bed facility with two rooms for health workers each at Parañaque City College and in Makati City, and a 56-bed capacity facility with four nurse stations at Lingunan National High School Quadrangle in Valenzuela City.

There will also be a 32-bed quarantine facility at Caloocan City North Medical Center; a 144-bed facility with three nurse stations at Barangay Tunasan, Muntinlupa City; a 88-bed capacity container van in Malabon; and another 120-bed facility in Navotas City, according to Villar.

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JE