A 50-bed isolation facility was recently completed in Nasipit, Agusan Del Norte while five more quarantine facilities are under way in Caraga region, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced.

The recently-inaugurated quarantine facility, according to Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, will cater to cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the municipality of Nasipit and neighboring towns of Agusan Del Norte.

The facility is  separated into two buildings for male and female with four units toilet for male, five units for female, one unit each for persons with disability and a total of 16 bathrooms.  

It also houses a medical personnel’s quarter with toilet and bathroom and food preparation/kitchen area.

According to the department, more isolation centers are on the works in different locations in Northeastern Mindanao or Caraga Region. The underway facilities will have a combined 250-bed capacity.

These include a 50-bed facility in Barangay Baan, Km 3, Butuan City, 50-bed facility in Barangay Consuelo, Bunawan, Agusan Del Sur, two 50-bed facilities in Barangay Silop and Cagniog, Surigao City, and 5 54-bed facility in Barangay Tabon, Bislig City.

“More health facilities would be built by the department under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) to improve capability to isolate COVID-19 patients away from their communities and further halt the spread of the disease,” Villar said.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary Emil Sadain, who heads the DPWH task force to build isolation facilities, inspected the Butuan City Medical Center following a request for assistance by Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada to expand the hospital bed capacity.