By Mario Casayuran  Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go said on Tuesday that he would push for the establishment of quarantine facilities in all 73 Department of Health (DOH) hospitals around the country to preempt the possible spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) and as preparation for similar situations that may occur in the future. Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (Photo from Bong Go / Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN) “I’m planning to file a bill na maglalagay tayo ng separate quarantine facilities sa lahat ng mga DOH-run hospitals or kung kakailanganin po, ay hiwalay na lote or structure doon sa may ospital,” Go told reporters in an interview in Caloocan City, where he distributed financial and relief assistance to victims of a fire. (I am planning to file a bill that we put separate quarantine facilities in all DOH-run hospitals or, if needed, on a separate lot or structure near the hospital.) “Paghahanda ito hindi lang sa posibleng pagkalat ng nCoV. Kung saka-sakaling meron pang dumating, ay handa na po tayo at hindi na po tayo magtuturuan sa ibang lugar na ayaw naman nilang tanggapin, at para magkaroon na rin po ng peace of mind ang bawat isang mamamayan natin sa kanya-kanyang lugar,” Go added. (This is in preparation not only for the spread of nCoV. If there will be similar situations, we are prepared and we won’t be pointing at locations where they won’t accept patients anyway, and for the peace of mind for every Filipino in their own communities.) Go was referring to the difficulty of the government in finding quarantine facilities for the Filipinos from Hubei province in China who decided to return home. Go, the chairman of the Senate committee on health, said he would seek the help of President Duterte to ensure the passage of this measure. “I will also ask the President for support. Kakailanganin naman natin ‘to sa ngayon. Kita niyo naman sa ibang bansa madali silang nakakagawa ng structure. Bakit hindi natin kayang gawin ito?” he asked. (I will ask the President for support. We need these facilities now anyway. You have seen how other countries easily built such structures. Why can’t we do it?) The Filipinos who arrived from Hubei are currently staying at the Athletes’ Village in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac for a 14-day quarantine period. “Ngayon nagagamit pa ang Athletes’ Village. Para po ‘yun sa mga atleta. Ginagamit natin sa quarantine purposes sa ngayon. Kung meron na tayong separate quarantine area at facilities, ang mga ito ay primarily for that purpose only,” Go said. (Now the Athletes’ Village is being used. It is for athletes. We are now using it for quarantine purposes. If we have a separate quarantine area and facilities, these athlete’s facilities would be used for that purpose only.) Go said he would ask Malacañang to certify the measure as urgent. In the meantime, Go called for the immediate identification of quarantine facilities in DOH-run and provincial hospitals. “Kailangan na nating magkaroon ng identified quarantine facilities in each region or maybe in each province, especially po ‘yung mga sentro dahil unang-una, hindi naman natin malalaman kung sino po ‘yung matatamaan,” he said, adding that the government should always be proactive in dealing with these kinds of crisis situations. (We need to have quarantine facilities identified as such in each region or may be in each province, particularly at the centers, because first of all, we don’t know who will be affected.) “Kung kakailanganin, magrenta tayo for the meantime kung sakaling dumami talaga (ang persons under investigation),” he added. (If needed, we can rent if ever there should be more PUIs.)