A new isolation facility that will accommodate new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients opened on Monday, April 26, at the South Harbor in Port Area, Manila.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque announced the opening of the Eva Macapagal Isolation Facility that has a 250-bed capacity.
“Una itong ginawang quarantine facility noong nakaraang taon para ma-accommodate ang ating repatriated seafarers at OFWs na kinakailangang sumailalim sa required 14-day quarantine (This was a quarantine facility that accommodated our repatriated seafares and OFWs who needed to undergo the required 14-day quarantine),” he said in his virtual presser.
The Palace official added the newly opened facility would cater to COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic or with mild symptoms.
Roque explained that this facility, which is operated by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), was converted for isolation of patients to “expand the capacity of our health care facility.”
Present during the event were Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Deputy Chief Implementer of the government’s response against COVID-19 Vince Dizon, and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.
Meanwhile, another isolation facility at Camp Olivas in San Fernando City, Pampanga was opened on April 23, Friday, by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The 32-bed facility is inside the compound of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 3 headquarters. It is a two-storey modular-type building.
The government is eyeing more than 100 quarantine facilities by the end of April, bringing the total number of beds to some 26,000 from the already existing 22,000 beds.
About 50 percent of the current beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients from the National Capital Region (NCR).