The Department of Public Work and Highways (DPWH) will be constructing dormitories for medical workers and quarantine facilities for asymptomatic coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients in Western Visayas.
In a phone interview on Tuesday, DPWH regional director for Western Visayas Lea Delfinado said 24 projects will be implemented region-wide with a total budget of PHP297.5 million to be funded from the department’s quick response fund (QRF).
The project is modular or container-type with individual rooms, comfort rooms, and air-conditioning units.
The 24 projects will have a total capacity of 803 beds.
“The quarantine facility has 16 rooms because it has to accommodate one occupant per room. The dormitory can accommodate 32 because each room will have a double-deck,” she said.
“Our structure will include the provision of bed,” she added.
DPWH has agreed with local government units (LGUs) that they will be the ones to operate and manage the quarantine facilities. The LGUs provided the site where the projects will be established.
The medical dormitories, on the other hand, will be managed by hospitals that were identified by the Department of Health (DOH).
The two sets of quarantine facilities that will be built in cities of Iloilo and Bacolod can accommodate 32 patients each.
The province of Iloilo will have a modular quarantine facility and a medical laboratory.
DPWH will be constructing 76 cubicles at the Iloilo province’s covered gymnasium for asymptomatic patients and those who will be transferred from hospitals to quarantine facilities.
Provincial hospitals in Aklan, Antique, and Capiz will each have a medical dormitory.
A makeshift quarantine facility will be established in existing evacuation centers in Guimaras; Carles, Iloilo; and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental.
“We will convert them into a quarantine facility by constructing cubicles,” she added.
Delfinado said they are now in the process of emergency procurement.
She added they are just waiting for documents from their central office to obligate the projects although the budget is already available.
“Anytime we will serve the notice to proceed because the timeline for this is three months,” she said, adding that contractors were advised to do extra effort.
She added Secretary Mark Villar wanted the projects completed in two months.
However, since they will be using container vans, then it will depend on the delivery of the materials from Manila, expected to begin next week.
After the Covid-19, the facilities will be kept by the DPWH for future use based on their agreement or LGUs may request that the structure will be transferred to them. (PNA)
