The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has opened its isolation facility in Adamson University (AdU) in response to Hospicio de San Jose’s appeal for assistance.

PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Senator Richard Gordon gave in to Hospicio de San Jose administrator Sister Maria Socorro Pilar Evidente’s appeal to open its isolation facility in AdU to cater to COVID-19 positive individuals of the oldest welfare institution in the country.

“Kailangan natin agad tugonan ang mga matatanda at mga bata ng Hospicio de San Jose dahil isa sila sa mga most vulnerable groups sa ating bansa. Sa dumarami na kaso ng COVID-19, ay kaagad natin ipinabukas ang isolation facility natin sa Adamson upang mabigyan ng maayos na atensyong medical na apektado ng COVID-19 (We need to immediately respond to the needs of the elderly and children of Hospicio de San Jose because they are ones who are most vulnerable groups in our country. With the increasing cases of COVID-19, we immediately opened our isolation facility in Adamson to provide proper medical attention to those affected by COVID-19),” Gordon said in a statement on Sunday, Aug. 29.

In a letter dated Aug. 28, Evidente appealed to Gordon to open PRC’s isolation facility in AdU to attend to its COVID-positive patients, saying that the orphanage has so far logged 108 active cases with 17 recoveries.

“We were informed by our Vincentian brothers that their Adamson facility was reserved for Red Cross COVID mild cases. Please Senator, grant our appeal to open this facility for our use because it is near to us so we can transfer some of our active cases and decongest our quarantine facility here, while readying it again for possible new cases, which we pray would not happen, but today we still have 30 more to be tested as PUIs with symptoms,” she said.

Evidente said they made the “very urgent request” “to provide our patients with a better room conducive for their healing.”

"Many concerned citizens have been concerned about our present facilities whether it is conducive for healing. Hence, we would really appreciate the service of Red Cross doctor and nurse if some of our patients can be transferred to Adamson facility. We can fill up the 18 rooms with 54 cases,” she said.

PRC said the isolation facility in AdU will provide a doctor and a nurse to ensure the well-being of the patients.

The country’s premiere humanitarian organization on Aug. 14, brought a “Bakuna Bus” to Hospicio de San Jose to vaccinate senior citizens and staff of the hospice. It vaccinated over 150 senior citizens, bed-ridden clients, persons with comorbidities, and health care workers against COVID-19.