The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is looking to place 10 shipping containers that have been converted into mobile health facilities at the Cultural Center of Philippines (CCP) open grounds in Pasay City.
“We have turned 10 shipping containers into mobile isolation facilities for patients who are awaiting diagnosis. These are those who do not know yet whether they are positive or negative for Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). So, while they are waiting for the results, they need to stay in an isolated quarantine facility. In other words, one room per patient,” DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said during a Laging Handa briefing.
Villar said they are now coordinating with the CCP management regarding the matter.
“This is the solution that we see.”
“This is the solution that we see. It has built-in rooms and comfort rooms and can be placed anywhere and moved because these are containers. We are also taking care of its septic facilities,” the public works chief added.
The DPWH Task Force to Facilitate Augmentation of Local and National Health Care Facilities earlier recommended the conversion of shipping containers into emergency healthcare facilities which is also being adopted worldwide.
The task force has designed plans for four high cube containers of 40 feet long with an eight-foot wide and nine-foot high dimensions joined together to be mobile field hospitals for the possible isolation and treatment of 16 patients classified by the Department of Health (DOH) as probable Covid-19 cases.
Based on plans for a one-story health facility, a 40-footer shipping container is divided into four rooms and designed per DOH guidelines and recommendations to have proper ventilation, and toilet and bath in each room as every probable Covid-19 patient needs full isolation.
The DPWH has also prepared design plans for high cube shipping containers 20 feet long that can be converted into nurse stations, utility room and separate temporary quarters of male and female healthcare service personnel.
Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, urgent measures to meet the health crisis have been ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte to assist the DOH in the establishment, construction, and operation of temporary medical facilities.
The Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Forum Tent located inside the CCP complex has also been converted into heath facilities.
Meanwhile, the public works head reiterated that they are ready to provide more funding from the “Build, Build, Build” projects to finance the programs of government against the disease.
“We are looking where to source funds in case there is a need for it.”
“We are looking where to source funds in case there is a need for it. And if really needed, we will determine what projects are not considered as priorities. We will give updates because the budget is big and identifying all these projects is tedious,” he added.