A 224-bed quarantine facility that was built for the use of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) frontliners, who contracted coronavirus while on duty, was opened Saturday morning.
The quarantine facility is located at the Coast Guard Base in Taguig City.
Admiral George Ursabia, Coast Guard commandant, said good quality container vans are utilized in the construction of the 224-bed capacity isolation area that will be exclusive for Coast Guard frontline personnel.
The quarantine facility features a medical station with sufficient storage for personal protective equipment sets, medical supplies, and medicines, as well as a 26-bed capacity accommodation for Coast Guard nurses and health workers.
It is equipped with sewerage, electrical, and air conditioning systems, as well as a modest leisure area. Parking spaces for ambulances are also available.
Construction was financed by a P35-million fund sourced from the 2019 capital outlay, the 2020 Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) budget of the Coast Guard, and through the financial aid of the Department of Budget and Management.
“The PCG quarantine facility will allow the Coast Guard Medical Service to better manage active cases, thereby contributing to the speedy recovery and rehabilitation of infected personnel,” Ursabia said.
As of October 2, Coast Guard has recorded a total of 1,630 cases of COVID-19 infections within the organization. A total of 1,560 personnel have already recovered, lowering the tally of active cases to 70.
There were also 22 cases of reinfection, five of them remain active, while 17 others have already recovered for the second and third time of reinfection.
Ursabia said that aside from the operations of the PCG quarantine facility, the Command conducts regular swab tests, ensures sufficient supply of vitamins, PPE sets, and medical supplies,and nutritious meals for its frontliners.
They also implement strategic deployment to maximize rest periods and utilize UV lights to augment manual disinfection of workstations and billeting areas.