To augment health facilities nationwide, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar announced that 125 evacuation centers are ready to be converted as exclusive facilities for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.
“110 evacuation centers have been completed with access to both power and water. We are now facilitating power and water connection to an additional 15 evacuation centers,” Villar noted.
In Butuan, an evacuation center has already been converted into a health facility specific to COVID-19 patients by the city government of Butuan and the Butuan City Medical Center.
“DPWH has inspected, along with DOH, possible location sites.”
The public works chief noted that the DPWH has inspected, along with the Department of Health, possible location sites — such as in San Gabriel in Tuguegarao, San Pablo in Isabela, Mexico and Lubao in Pampanga, Botolan in Zambales, Talavera in Nueva Ecija, and Tabuk in Kalinga.
“In Dalaguete in Cebu, the evacuation center is already being used as a health facility for Persons Under Investigation or Persons Under Monitoring. The DOH resident epidemiologist recommended bed arrangement with the appropriate distancing of 10.26 sq.m,” the public works head said.
He said at least four evacuation centers are used as food hubs by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and another nine as emergency operations centers by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.