PH Arena complex to cater to 300 COVID-19 patients
BOCAUE, Bulacan -- The Philippine Arena complex at Ciudad de Victoria will initially cater to about 300 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients who are asymptomatic or have mild/ moderate symptoms.
National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 members led by Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., NTF Chair and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Bases Conversion and Development Authority President and CEO Vince Dizon and Health Emergency Management Bureau Director Gloria Balboa led Tuesday the inspection of the sprawling quarantine facility.
The team inspected three tents, some of which are already equipped with beds, mattresses and refrigerators.
The initial 300 capacity can later be expanded to cater to up to 2,000 patients.
“Philippine Arena will be capable of serving patients coming from Quezon City, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela and Bulacan,” Galvez disclosed.
Regarding the concern on how to ensure sanitation of the facility, Dizon referred to existing models of other quarantine facilities that are currently being set up namely the Philippine International Convention Center and World Trade Center wherein Department of Public Works and Highways converted container vans into comfort rooms and shower rooms.
Before the facility starts accepting COVID-19 patients, the structure of the tents need to be slightly modified due to safety reasons.
"Dahil yung requirement ng Department of Health ang sinusunod natin, most probably ‘yung model natin sa Rizal Memorial complex ang gagamitin natin, so papalitan natin 'yung partition. Hindi pwede ang tela kasi kumakapit ang virus doon. Papalitan natin ng acetate (We will follow the requirement of Department of Health, most probably our model will be the Rizal Memorial complex. So we need to change the partition as the virus sticks on cloth. We will change it with acetate),” he explained.
A separate housing facility located within the complex has been designated for about 300 medical frontliners who will be stationed at the quarantine area.
Meanwhile, Lorenzana thanked the Iglesia ni Cristo leadership for the generosity it has shown in the wake of the pandemic.
---Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu / PIA-3