Philippine Arena as COVID-19 facility 80% ready -DPWH chief Villar

The sprawling Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan is 80% ready to open as a quarantine facility for suspected COVID-19 cases, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said Tuesday.

“May mga tatapusin today, at bukas ang final inspection. 80% na siya, electrical works na lang, and installation ng Wi-Fi ng Smart,” Villar said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Villar said they are hoping that the facility will be fully operational by weekend.

The Philippine Arena as quarantine facility will have a 300-bed capacity and will be manned by medical professionals from the ranks of the police and the military.

“May mga doctor and nurses rin po from Armed Forces and the police, at kailangan po talaga sila para mabuo ang work force,” Villar said.

Aside from Philippine Arena, other buildings converted to quarantine facilities include the World Trade Center and Philippine Intertional Convention Center in Pasay, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, Philsports Arena in Pasig and Asean Convention Center in New Clark City.

All in all, these facilities will have 2,386 beds, including the 300 in the Philippine Arena.

The Philippines has recorded 7,777 COVID-19 cases so far. Of this number, 932 have recovered while 511 have died.

Luzon has been under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) since March 16 -- a measure that banned mass transport, prohibited mass gathering and stopped work in many industries -- to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

The ECQ was supposed to be lifted last April 12, but the government extended it to April 30 to give it more time to finish quarantine facilities and ramp up mass testing efforts.

The said date, however, was again moved to May 15 for the same reasons. --LLanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA News