DPWH: 125 evacuation centers ready for COVID patients

MANILA, Philippines — Some 125 evacuation centers were completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in various parts of the country that could be converted into health facilities to accommodate suspected victims of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) , DPWH Secretary Mark Villar reported yesterday.

Citing an updated report from Undersecretary Emil Sadain who heads the department’s task force to augment health facilities, Villar said that considering the 12-square meter per patient latest safety standard of the Department of Health (DOH), the DPWH constructed 110 evacuation centers that are concrete buildings, which could be converted into health facilities and could accommodate about 4,620 patients.

Sadain also reported that 15 other smaller evacuation centers that could accommodate 630 patients would be added to the units that the DOH could use.

He said the DPWH is now installing water and electric connections at the 13 evacuation centers, while two other units need some minor corrections.

Villar said that these centers, which were constructed in disaster-prone areas, are far from earthquake faults and in accordance with the specifications of the National Building Code of the Philippines.

The Butuan City government and Butuan City Medical Center have already converted one of the DPWH evacuation centers in Barangay Baan Km 3 into a health facility after the area reported local COVID-19 cases.

The newest DPWH evacuation center in Fairview, Quezon City is now also being used as Emergency Operation Center (EOC) by the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office in the National Capital Region.

Four evacuation centers located at Barangay San Roque, Mexico in Pampanga and Barangay Santa Catalina, Lubao also in Pampanga; Botolan, Zambales and Talavera, Nueva Ecija are being considered by DOH for conversion into health facilities to prepare for the potential surge of COVID patients in Central Luzon.

In Cagayan Valley Region, officials of the DPWH Regional Office 2, DOH and the local government unit inspected the evacuation center in San Gabriel, Tuguegarao City while another facility at San Pablo is being considered by the government of Cauayan City, Isabela.

The evacuation center at Dalaguete, Cebu is now being used as health facility for persons under investigation/monitoring while eight other units in Central Visayas are also being used for patients.

The DPWH also completed buildings in Cagayan de Oro City and Tabuk, Kalinga that are also being considered by DOH for conversion.

Four other evacuation centers in the Cordilleras are being used as food hubs by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).