Baguio gets P12-M pledge from DPWH

BAGUIO CITY — Baguio City has received a commitment of P12-million from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the setting up of additional isolation quarters for patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Of the amount, Baguio City Admistrator Bonifacio de la Peña said P8-million will be used for additional rooms while the remaining P4-million shall be earmarked for equipment to run the isolation facility.

Data from the City Health Services Office (CHSO) show that Baguio is below Department of Health (DoH) standards when it comes to COVID-19 beds-to-population ratio.

Baguio only has 45 beds at the former Sto. Niño Hospital that has been converted by the local government as isolation facility for COVID-19 patients.

The city is now looking at a two-month period within which to complete additional isolation quarters in the same structure.

DoH, however, requires that the city should have at least 148 beds ready for use at any given time.

To bridge what is lacking, the city is currently working on the accreditation of additional rooms at the Baguio Teachers Camp in the meantime.

De la Peña said, the Baguio Teachers Camp has a current capacity of 130 beds for quarantine purposes of overseas Filipino workers.

He said the city is considering conversion of additional rooms, the Baguio Teachers Camp good for additional 300 beds. This will bring the city at par with DoH standards, he added.