By Charissa Luci-Atienza Leaders of the House of Representatives on Saturday (March 14), rallied behind the proposal to convert the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City into a “dedicated hospital” for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. House of the Representatives (ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE PHOTO) Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, Bataan 1st district Rep. Geraldine Roman, Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, and La Union 2nd district Rep. Sandra Eriguel threw their support behind the proposal made by former health department secretary and now Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin last Wednesday. "The public and private hospitals won't have enough space for isolation rooms and later negative pressure rooms. It is best to have one structure dedicated for that and to prepare that facility for coronavirus patients," Defensor, chairman of the House committee on public accounts, told the Manila Bulletin in a text message. "In China, they even put up a structure for that purpose when all the hospitals could not take anymore patients," he said. Garin earlier said necessary preparations should be made to prepare the Lung Center to accept all patients infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV- 2), especially if there will be community transmission. For her part, Bataan 1st district Rep. Geraldine Roman, chairperson of the House committee on veteran affairs, also welcomed the proposed conversion of the Lung Center into a COVID-19 hospital. "Considering that COVID-19 attacks the respiratory system, her suggestion is brilliant, but we should also prepare all major hospitals to reserve and isolate entire floors when possible just in case the number of COVID-19 patients surpasses the Lung Center's capacity," she said in a text message. "We should also designate similar hospitals nationwide although it is our prayer that infections do not increase in the rest of the country," she added. Barbers, chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, and Eriguel, chairman of the House committee on social services, described Garin's proposal as timely. "Yes, I support that. We should contain all patients with COVID in an isolated place in order to control and monitor its spread," Barbers said. "That's a good proposal considering that COVID-19 affects primarily the respiratory tract," said Eriguel, a medical doctor by profession. Garin earlier proposed that the non-COVID patients of the 39-year old Lung Center be transferred to National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI), Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), and East Avenue Medical Center. "In that way, we limit the exposure of heath personnel bringing the virus from one patient to another,” the Senior Deputy Minority Leader said. "It is very timely for us now to prepare a dedicated COVID-19 hospital that actually the DOH has the capacity.” Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Garin’s proposal will be “assessed” by the DOH’s Health Facility Infrastructure Development Team. "Conceptually, I think that is a very good suggestion. we will have it assessed,” he said in the House committee on health hearing on the measures being undertaken by the Department of Health (DOH) to prevent the spread of the disease. He said the team will also look into the different structures around the country that may accommodate COVID-19 patients. "It warrants, if not merits, a review immediately,” Duque said.