NOAH Complex gets more cleaning crew

CEBU, Philippines —  Additional personnel have been deployed to the New Normal Oasis for Adaptation and a Home (NOAH) Complex at the South Road Properties in Cebu City to help maintain cleanliness of the isolation facility that houses COVID-19 asymptomatic patients.

Atty. Jocelyn Pesquera, NOAH manager, said at least 10 job order employees are being trained to keep the facility, especially the restrooms, clean.

“We’re doing well,” Pesquera said yesterday.

As far as water supply is concerned, Pesquera admitted a shortage in January this year when there were more patients at NOAH but this happened only for a few hours as the supplier was not able to fill the water tanks.

“Maka-experience mi mga hours lang. Wa gyud mi ingon nga naabti og one day nga walay tubig. Always naa mi tubig. It’s just that at the height nga naabot mi og 400 patients, medyo dili kaato sa supply ang amoang water supplier,” Pesquera said.

She said they had to ask for assistance from the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) and the Department of Public Services (DPS) so that supply would be replenished.

Pesquera assured that management makes sure there is constant supply of water at NOAH as water is a basic necessity of patients.

She shared that additional shower rooms and comfort rooms will also be opened.

In a previous interview, Pesquera said since restrooms inside the quarantine facility were limited, they constructed additional 40 shower rooms outside — 20 for females and 20 for males. They also added restrooms using portalets.

These interventions are meant to address the concerns raised by some patients, she said.

Last week, a Facebook post surfaced stating that NOAH Complex is allegedly “not conducive for isolation anymore.”

“And if I may suggest, please revisit NOAH COMPLEX because it's not conducive for isolation anymore. Duha lang ang CR sa sulod sa facility for men and women; di sad siya limpyo, daghan ang portalet naa sa gawas,” a netizen posted.

Councilor Donaldo Hontiveros, assistant manager of NOAH Complex, said earlier that while the city is in the process of addressing the concerns, it would be better if individuals housed at NOAH would also help maintain cleanliness, particularly their individual areas.

Pesquera said that when the isolation facility expanded its bed capacity to 450 from 360, more equipment was also installed.

As of February 22, 2021 there are 221 patients isolated at the NOAH Complex. — JMO (FREEMAN)