DPWH turns over ‘container’ isolation facility to Las Piñas

MANILA, Philippines — To help the government respond to the needs of COVID-19 patients, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) gave 27 container vans that were converted into a 96-bed quarantine or isolation facility in Las Piñas City.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said the facility would augment the city’s existing healthcare facilities and boost its efforts to control the spread of the virus.

He noted that each of the 24 40-foot container vans has four rooms equipped with healthcare amenities, toilets and utilities. Two 20-foot container vans serve as nurse’s station while the last van is dedicated for X-ray.

Located inside the Goodyear Compound in Barangay Almanza, Villar stressed that the facility was designed in accordance with the guidelines and recommendations given by the Department of Health (DOH) and complies with the proper ventilation requirement.

The P35-million budget allocation for the project,  known as “Rehabilitation of Disaster-Related Infrastructure,” came from the DPWH’s regular fund for 2020 and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management fund.

The new COVID-19 facility, after the blessing ceremony led by Fr. Inocencio Palmari, was turned-over to the city government led by Mayor Imelda Aguilar and Vice Mayor April Aguilar last Nov. 16.

Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar also attended the occasion, which was a partnership between the DPWH and the city government in coordination with the National Development Company.

Sen. Cynthia Villar and her family have been helping the national government enhance its capabilities and responsiveness to the pandemic. They have been donating hospital equipment, portable handwashing stations, PPEs, face masks and field shields.

Just recently, they donated hospital equipment – a laboratory freezer, biological refrigerator, autoclave sterilizer and passbox ventilator – to the Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center to further boost its capabilities to deal with the current health crisis.

The Villar family also donated three buildings that the hospital could use for its extension facility, temporary housing for healthcare workers or as a quarantine facility.