By Raymund Antonio
At a time of crisis when lack of public transport is a problem, architects and interior designers are putting their skills to good use to support health workers battling the coronavirus pandemic.
Interior designers Ivy and Cynthia Almario, Architect Peach Buencamino, and members of the United Architects of the Philippines have pitched in to help in building temporary homes for frontliners.
Using the shelters donated by IKEA Philippines, they broke ground to start the Oasis Project this week aimed at providing medical personnel a place to stay within hospital premises.
The housing project spearheaded by Vice President Leni Robredo’s office kicked off at the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City.
“Six units will be put up for the Oasis Project at the Lung Center,” Jill Campo-Javiniar, head of Robredo’s flagship Angat Buhay program, told the Manila Bulletin.
“Each shelter can accommodate up to 10 frontliners so that’s a total of 60 (beneficiaries),” she said.
Javiniar did not give details when asked about the housing specifications and design.
Almost three months after the community quarantine took effect, public transport remains a problem for health workers and frontliners. Some of them are still afraid to go home because they might infect their families.
Oasis Project is Robredo’s latest initiative to support frontliners in the middle of the country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) and its Angat Buhay partners had opened 12 free dormitories near various hospitals in Metro Manila.
Of this number, only five dormitories remain in operation, Javiniar said.
Robredo’s office set the initial target date of occupancy on June 12.