COVID-19 field hospital under construction in Rizal Park

MANILA, Philippines — The city government of Manila broke ground for a 336-bed COVID field hospital at Rizal Park yesterday.

Mayor Isko Moreno led the groundbreaking ceremony for the hospital, which would house mild and moderate cases.

“We have a way to heed the call of the national government to unclog our hospital capacity and reduce the incidence of deaths at the triage and tent or parking space,” he said.

“We will approach this inclusively because this is an universal problem. We cannot give up, we will not surrender,” Moreno added.

The mayor was joined by National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr., NTF deputy chief implementer Vivencio Dizon, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Emil Sadain and Assistant Health Secretary Romeo Ong.

He said the P154-million field hospital is expected to be completed within two months. An additional 100 beds would also be put in place when necessary.

The mobile hospital will have 150 medical frontliners to monitor COVID-19 patients. Moreno said the hospital, made of shipping containers, will feature inter-communication between patients and medical frontliners, internet connection and will be airconditioned.

Female patients will also be separated from male patients.

Oxygen tank casing will also be on standby in every modular container.

“We hope we save many. Nobody will be left behind,” Moreno said.