DPWH completes 3 isolation facilities in one week

ILIGAN CITY, Aug. 27 (PIA)– After starting the much-needed COVID-19 healthcare projects last week, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)- Lanao del Norte 2nd District Engineering Office recently turned-over three (3) newly-completed isolation facilities to the City Government of Iligan.

The record-setting feat was driven by Iligan City’s need for additional quarantine facilities following a steep spike of COVID-19 cases that started in the early weeks of August due to local transmission.

“It was IATF Secretary Galvez who identified our lack of isolation facilities as one of the major reasons why we are seeing this alarming increase of COVID-19 cases. This is what prompted us also to double of efforts and finish these facilities within one week," District Engineer Alykhan Ali revealed.

On August 26, DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, who now heads the DPWH Task Force to Facilitate Augmentation of Local and National Healthcare Facilities led the turnover ceremony of the isolation centers located in barangays Poblacion, Acmac and Tomas Cabili.

(left to right) District Engineer Alykhan Ali, City Mayor Celso Regencia and DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain engage in a lively conversation during their final inspection of the 40-bed capacity isolation facility in Brgy. Poblacion, Iligan City.

Mayor Celso Regencia who accepted the COVID-19 facilities expressed his gratitude to DPWH for providing the three healthcare infrastructures amidst the increasing local transmission cases in the city.

Last August 25, Iligan City already has 234 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of the 21 new cases recorded that day, 19 are local transmission.

“Each of these isolation facilities can accommodate 40 patients who are asymptomatic or suffering from mild symptoms.  Therefore, with these 3 isolation centers, we will now be able to free 120 hospital beds that can be used by patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 cases.  This is the strategy adopted by our DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, being the appoint isolation czar of President Duterte," Ali explained.

Each of the cubicle rooms in the quarantine facility has its own hospital bed, electric fan, and convenience outlet.  There are also separate restrooms and showers for the enrolled male and female patients.

Also present at the ceremonial turn over are DPWH Project Director Sharif Madsmo K. Hasim, Assistant Regional Director Rey Peter Gille, Vice-Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz, IATF-Iligan Head Butch Baulete, Iligan Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Manager for COVID-19 Belinda Lim, and other local government officials. (VNL/DPWH/PIA ICIC)

Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)