The Department of Public Works and Highways announced that the Philippine International Convention Center Forum Halls, the World Trade Center in Pasay, and the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila will be converted into facilities for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) treatment and monitoring.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said Wednesday that the conversion of the said facilities is expected to be finished within 10 days.
“The PICC Forum Halls, the WTC in Pasay, and the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila will soon be converted into a much-needed facility for the treatment and health monitoring of COVID-19 patients as well as Patients-Under-Investigation (PUIs) and Patients-Under-Monitoring (PUMs),” the DPWH said in a statement.
Villar stressed that the immediate conversion of the facilities is taken to provide additional space to monitor patients with COVID-19 as most of health facilities in Metro Manila were overwhelmed and or nearing maximum capacity.
“As most of health facilities in Metro Manila have reached or nearing maximum capacity, the immediate conversion of PICC Forum Halls will significantly provide an optimal isolation space for monitoring of people infected by COVID-19 virus. We want to decongest the hospitals,” he said.
The conversion of 4,000 square meter PICC Forum will be led by DPWH along with EEI and Villar Group of Companies, which will be accomplished within a week.
“DPWH, EEI, and Villar Group of Companies is working to accomplish the redesigning and conversion of Forum Halls 1 to 3 into COVID facility within two weeks period,” Villar said.
Once completed, the PICC health facility is estimated to accommodate to 630 COVID-19 patients experiencing mild respiratory symptoms and the temporary facility will be placed under the supervision of the Department of Health.
The World Trade Center and Rizal Memorial Coliseum will also be converted as temporary medical facilities with support from private companies such as Ayala Corporation and Razon Group.
The Ayala Development Corporation and Makati Development Corporation of will handle the conversion of the World Trade Center while the Razon Group will undertake the PSC-operated Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, specifically the Ninoy Aquino Basketball Stadium, into added health facility for COVID infection control.
The DPWH will accredit construction workers who will work on the three facilities identified for purposes of quarantine or isolation as directed by the National Task Force COVID-19.
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