Negros Occidental opens more facilities for health workers, COVID-19 patients

BACOLOD CITY—At least P52 million in facilities were opened on Friday (Oct. 30) in the cities of Bacolod and Silay in Negros Occidental to boost the province’s fight against COVID-19.

The facilities included quarantine spaces at the village of Alijis, a 32-bed dormitory in the Corazon Locsin  Montelibano  Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH)  in Bacolod City and another  32-bed dormitory in the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City.

Vince Dizon, deputy chief implementer of the national plan against COVID-19, was at the opening rites along with Gov. Eugenio Lacson, Rep. Francisco Benitez, Rep. Stephen Paduano and Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Lea Delfinado, regional public works director, said the facilities at Alijis village were worth P25 million and would provide quarantine spaces for COVID-19 patients.

The newly-built facility with 32 beds, she said, will help raise Bacolod’s health care capacity.

Delfinado said the facilities were fully equipped and followed design prepared by the Department of Public Works and Highways “to ensure the safety and comfort of beneficiaries.”

The facilities have air conditioned rooms with individual toilets and bath, sleeping quarters for the medical staff, a nurses’ station,  utility room and sanitation area.

These were also fitted with water tanks and a standby generator.

Delfinado said the facilities would allow the isolation of COVID-19 patients “away from their communities.” These could also be used to shelter people fleeing disasters.

The hospital dormitories would serve as shelter for health workers on the frontline of the fight against COVID-19.

Each dormitory cost P13.5 million to build and has 16 rooms to accommodate 32 health care workers.

Delfinado said each room in the dorms were air conditioned and has double deck beds, toilets and water heaters.

The dorms were made of container vans which had been designed to have living rooms and common dining areas. Separate areas for laundry and cooking had also been built.

TSB