The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Task Force for Augmentation of Health Facilities fast-tracks the construction of dormitories for hospital workers who are on the front lines of caring for COVID-19 patients.
Secretary Mark A. Villar disclosed that the on-going construction of off-site dormitories for healthcare workers playing significant roles to the public health crisis is moving forward inside the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.
Based on a report submitted to Secretary Villar by Undersecretary and DPWH Task Force head Emil K. Sadain following his inspection at Quezon Memorial Circle together with Directors Ernesto Gregorio Jr. and Aristarco Doroy, Assistant Director Edgar Garces and Quezon City Building Official Atty Dale Perral, it is possible that the on-going construction of six (6) dormitories each with 16 rooms and occupancy of two (2)-person per room for a total capacity of 192 will be completed at the end of June 2020.
The living quarters are intended for hospital workers primarily from Quezon City-based hospitals such as National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Heart Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Veterans Memorial Hospital, Childrens Hospital, and V. Luna General Hospital.
Amidst the global pandemic, one of the biggest needs health care providers have is space for doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to rest between shifts.
To support this critical need, the DPWH Task Force for Augmentation of Health Facilities on instruction of Secretary Villar worked closely with the Quezon City government to make space available for offsite dormitories of COVID-19 frontliners.
The initiative for accomodation shelter for medical personnel is in addition to other DPWH programs to contribute to national government’s efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic such as the successful conversion of several public and private buildings and spaces in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces into mega quarantine/healthcare facility or ‘We Heal As One’ Center.
Undersecretary Sadain said that the offsite dormitories will be solely for use by healthcare workers after completing their hospital scheduled shifts inasmuch as they need to isolate themselves from their families to help reduce the risk of transmission between exposed workers and their households.
We can’t thank enough the hospital personnel who work devotedly in the fight against coronavirus and providing with a housing option that keeps their families safer makes it a little bit easier for them to do the incredibly difficult job that has to be done, added Undersecretary Sadain.