The “We Heal As One” Center put up by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Villar Group of Companies at the Philippine Sports (PhilSports) Arena or ULTRA (University of Life Training and Recreational Arena) in Pasig City is now fit to accommodate coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients.
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the 132-bed capacity PhilSports Arena quarantine facility in Pasig City is ready to handle possible treatment of suspected COVID-19 cases and probable COVID-19 cases after it was checked recently by representatives from the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD).
“The DOH and PNP Medical Team had to made sure that the repurposed PhilSports Arena has all necessary equipment.”
As one of the designated COVID-19 facilities in Metro Manila, the DOH and the PNP Medical Team had to made sure that the repurposed PhilSports Arena has all necessary equipment prior to its acceptance for management and operation, said Villar.
The center with two nurses’ stations is fully equipped with medical equipment such as hospital beds donated by the Villar Group of Companies.
The civil works in PhilSports Arena were completed ahead of the five-day deadline.
The civil works at thePhilSports Arena were completed within three days by the DPWH Task Force for Augmentation of Local and National Health Facilities and National Capital Region (NCR) – ahead of the five-day deadline imposed by Villar.
Carpenters, electricians, laborers and other workers from the DPWH NCR’s nine District Engineering Offices were divided into three groups with each group working in the fabrication and installation of the 44 cubicles per cluster area.
The DPWH Task Force formed by Villar through close coordination with the IATF and the private sector also converted several public buildings such as the PICC-Forum, the World Trade Center, Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Coliseum into quarantine facilities. Meanwhile, a “We Heal As One Center” at the Philippine Arena Complex is now on its advanced stage of completion, the DPWH said.
The facility will be operated by nine doctors and 54 nurses from the PNP Medical Corps, added the DPWH.