The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is now assisting in the drive to contain the spread of the contagious coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with a nationwide disinfection program on the country’s major national highways.
DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said that his agency has set up sanitation and disinfection stations along vital national roads and at the entrance gates of every DPWH offices as the department continues operations on a skeleton work force.
“A total of 289 sanitation tents were already put up.”
A total of 289 sanitation tents were already put up by the combined efforts of 16 Regional and 184 District Engineering Offices nationwide for DPWH personnel to carry disinfection procedures on people and vehicles that may transmit COVID-19, said Villar.
Based on recent monitoring reports from DPWH COVID-19 Committee chaired by Senior Undersecretary Rafael Yabut, the number of sanitation tents doing disinfecting procedures are: Cordillera Administrative Region (18), Region 1 (35), Region 2 (7), Region 3 (4), Region 4A (65), Region 4B (18), Region 5 (16), Region 6 (18), Region 7 (15), Region 8 (17), Region 9 (14), Region 10 (43), Region 11 (3), Region 12 (8), and Region 13 (8).
To protect against virus transmission, DPWH staff manning the sanitation tents are also provided with personal protective equipment such as surgical masks, gloves, rubber boots and safety goggles.
There are also 21 gantry facilities installed along major routes by DPWH as means of containing or eliminating the coronavirus being transported by vehicles along the highways with four located at the National Capital Region, eight in Region 1, six in Region 2, and three in Region 6 located near COVID-19 checkpoint areas. DPWH personnel are also tasked to manage the smooth flow of traffic in these gantry sites.
In close coordination with the Department of Health, DPWH field units are provided with disinfectant solution for use in these sanitation stations and gantry sites.
“We are beginning to set up sanitation tents and stations to at least minimize the spread of virus.”
“DPWH Regional and District Engineering Offices nationwide are closely coordinating with national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units (LGUs) to offer our service in any way that we can. Right now, we are beginning to set up sanitation tents and stations to at least minimize the spread of the virus,” the Public Works chief stressed.
“This disinfection operation will continue for the whole duration of the enhanced community quarantine, beyond if necessary,” Villar added.