BOCAUE, Bulacan (PIA) — Transformation of the Philippine Arena complex at Ciudad de Victoria into a We Heal As One Center is set for completion on April 29.
Department Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and MVP Group of Companies pooled their resources to make it into a 300-bed mega treatment facility catering to coronavirus disease patients with mild or no symptoms.
DPWH Task Force on Augmentation of Local and National Health Facilities Head Undersecretary Emil Sadain said installation of 92 bed cubicles at tent 1 with floor area of 26 meters by 105 meters, and 104 bed cubicles each for tents 2 and 3 with identical size of 50 meters by 60 meters have been completed in conformance to Department of Health standard space of 3.05 square meters per patient.
“Separate toilet facilities for health workers using 40-footer container vans, medical personnel’s mess hall, disinfecting tents, supply storage area, and air conditioning system have also been set-up in each of the three isolation areas,” Sadain added.
The MVP Group is providing free access for medical workers and patients to the Philippine Arena Quarantine Center via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX); free use of Wifi throughout the site via PLDT/Smart Communications; free connection to water supply from Maynilad Water Services; and free installation of power lines and connection to the MERALCO grid.
MERALCO Vice President for North Distribution Services Jose Reyes disclosed that stable supply of electricity will be made available at the three mega tents with engineers and linemen working on the ground for the installation of poles, primary power lines, transformers, and other accessories to energize the premises without any deposit and installation charges.
Moreover, Maynilad Water Services with its subsidiary Philippine Hydro Inc. committed for sufficient water allocation with provision of free metering works from the Ciudad de Victoria to the mega quarantine tents.
Maynilad President Ramoncito Fernandez said technical assistance and support on water supply-related concerns will also be provided.
Patients in isolation at the center as well as the deployed medical workers and other service frontliners can also keep in touch with their families and loved ones for free in the first three months of quarantine operation via wi-fi connectivity to hotspots which will be installed without charges by PLDT and Smart Communications.
Meanwhile, NLEX Corporation Head for Operation Westerly Dionisio said that the tollways management has granted the DPWH request for waiving of fees on its Ciudad de Victoria Toll Plaza for government and private vehicles carrying medical professionals and patients bound to Philippine Arena’s We Heal As One Center.
The facility will be subject to final inspection within this week by members of National Task Force against COVID-19 and Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases for acceptance and operation.