DPWH: 23 new quarantine facilities in NCR to be completed this month

A total of 23 coronavirus disease 2019 quarantine facilities are currently under construction and eyed to be completed before the end of August, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Monday.

In an emailed statement, DPWH Secretary and Philippine isolation czar Mark Villar said the construction efforts are being fast-tracked as the bed occupancy in Metro Manila has already reached the "danger zone" or over 70% capacity.

"Our DPWH team is working on expediting the construction of isolation facilities that can accommodate patients with mild symptoms so that severe and critical cases can be prioritized in NCR hospitals," said Villar, who last month tested positive for COVID-19.

"Come August and we will have eight additional isolation and quarantine facilities in Quezon City; four in Pasay City; two in Pateros; and one each in Manila City, Marikina, Parañaque, Makati, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Muntinlupa, Malabon, and Navotas with total bed capacity of 2,417," he added.

The ongoing quarantine facilities include the following:

• Quezon City
  • Tandang Sora Senior High School Quarantine Facility (270-bed capacity);
  • Emilio Jacinto Senior High School in Pasong Tamo (427-capacity);
  • Converted container van at Quezon City General Hospital (44-capacity);
  • Converted container van at Quezon City University (64-capacity);
  • Converted container van at the House of Representatives (16-capacity;
  • AFP Medical Hospital Compound (48-capacity);
  • Quezon Institute Hospital Compound (48-capacity); and
  • Camp Aguinaldo Hospital Compound (48-capacity).
• Pasay City
  • Converted container van near WMall along Macapagal Avenue (172-capacity);
  • Villamor Airbase (72-capacity);
  • Pasay City Sports Complex (70-cubicle with two nurse stations); and
  • Folk Art Theater (276-capacity with five nurse stations).
• Pateros
  • Two 64-bed capacity facilities with 4 health worker rooms at Ramos Pateros Elementary School and another unidentified site.
• Manila City
  • Manuel L. Quezon University (58-capacity with two nurse stations)
• Marikina
  • Barangay Nangka, Marikina (124-capacity)
• Paranaque City
  • Paranaque City College (56-capacity  with two rooms for health workers)
• Valenzuela City
  • Lingunan National High School Quadrangle (56-capacity)
• Makati City
  • 56-capacity facility with two rooms for health workers
• Caloocan City
  • Caloocan City North Medical Center (32-capacity)
• Muntinlupa City
  • Barangay Tunasan (144-capacity with three nurse stations)
• Malabon
  • Container van (88-capacity)
• Navotas
  • 120-capacity facility

— Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News