The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with the support of private firms EEI Corporation and the Villar-led Vista Land Group have completed the construction of the health facility for coronavirus patients at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Forum Halls in just seven days.
DPWH Secretary Mark Villar announced that civil works for the makeshift hospital at the PICC Forum Tent are already completed with 294 patient cubicles, six nurses’ stations, and six smart houses outside the Forum Halla building to accommodate health workers.
“With the DPWH-EEI-Villar Group Team working 24/7, we finished the job quickly ahead of the 10-day work program for the conversion of the PICC Forum Tent,” said Villar.
The fully airconditioned health facility at the PICC complex will serve patients with mild to moderate cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) once medical equipment, such as hospital beds are installed and disinfection activities are completed.
“The PNP Medical Corps will manage the health service operation of PICC Forum Tent quarantine facility.”
“The Philippine National Police (PNP) Medical Corps will manage the health service operation of PICC Forum Tent quarantine facility,” added the public works chief.
Earlier, the public works head formed a DPWH Task Force on the Augmentation of Healthcare Facilities to work for the conversion of PICC, Rizal Memorial Coliseum, World Trade Center and other large-scale public buildings to be used as isolation sites to address hospital space shortage due to the rise of COVID-19 cases.
The task force headed by Undersecretary Emil Sadain have also identified open spaces in Metro Manila where prototype tents can be installed and transformed it into quarantine hubs.
“I have directed the utilization of the available 114 DPWH-built evacuation centers nationwide as health care facilities and for other COVID response purposes.”
Villar also directed the utilization of the available 114 DPWH-built evacuation centers nationwide as health care facilities and for other COVID response purposes.
He also lauded the DPWH men and women, who are also acting as support frontliners during this national health emergency.