Philippine Arena COVID-19 facility to be completed Wednesday

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Iglesia ni Cristo, and the MVP Group of Companies have partnered to complete the COVID-19 treatment facility in the religious group’s Philippine Arena complex in Bocaue, Bulacan.

The 300-bed mega-treatment facility “We Heal As One Center” would be completed on schedule by Wednesday, April 29, the MVP Group said in a statement Tuesday.

The large-scale health and safety initiative was made available by the Iglesia ni Cristo in Ciudad de Victoria.

The final inspection of the fully functional quarantine center would be led by DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain, INC official Atty. Glicerio “Ka GP” Santos IV,  and senior MVP group officers from Meralco, Maynilad-Phil Hydro, PLDT-Smart, and Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC)-NLEX Corporation.

“We Heal As One Center” at Philippine Arena Complex in Ciudad de Victoria, Bocaue, Bulacan is now on advanced stage of completion. pic.twitter.com/yZRzPLHYPR

— DPWHph (@DPWHph) April 26, 2020

To be turned over to the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 (IATF) medical teams once completed, the facilities would also be available to returning OFWs who were required to undergo mandatory quarantine.

“This is another testament to the effective collaboration among the public and private sectors. Our group will continue to support the government’s COVID-19 emergency response programs and help the country recover from this pandemic. During this health crisis, everyone must pitch in,” said MVP Group Chairman Manuel Pangilinan.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. through NLEx Corp. would provide special and exclusive access along the North Luzon Expressway to the Philippine Arena quarantine center for the IATF quarantine teams and medical support groups, according to the company.

Toll-free passage would also be given to all medical frontliners, ambulances, medical service vans, and the support team buses of the Department of Health.

To ensure efficient and safe movement of vehicles within the area, NLEx would likewise assist in traffic management and 24 x 7 monitoring via its CCTV system.

Roving patrol crews, emergency response, and engineering teams would be on standby to ensure hassle-free motorist access between the NLEX and the quarantine facility.

Meralco will install eight concrete poles and nine distribution transformers to energize the three mega tents. The electric distribution utility company would also waive the installation and dismantling costs and ensure the continuous flow of electricity to these temporary structures.

For its part, Maynilad Water and subsidiary Philippine Hydro Inc. would provide free metering works for the water supply requirements of the quarantine sites. They would also render technical assistance and support on water supply-related concerns.

To support the quarantine center’s communication requirements, PLDT wireless arm Smart Communications would equip the center with free Wi-Fi services which would enable medical frontliners and patients alike to be online.

“Our partnership signifies the true spirit of bayanihan. We are thankful to the MVP Group for helping us complete the requirements to make this mega quarantine center operational,” Sadain, head of the agency’s Task Force on Augmentation of Local and National Health Facilities.

The MVP Group has been actively involved in supporting frontliners and local government units during this pandemic.

Its contributions to the Philippine Arena quarantine facilities are part of its series of anti-COVID-19 initiatives.

The quarantine center would be run by the Philippine government, with personnel from the DOH, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP). — DVM, GMA News