Newly-built emergency quarantine facility in Cebu turned over to AFP
CEBU CITY, May 3 (PIA) — An Emergency Quarantine Facility (EQF) for COVID-19 frontliners has been donated and formally turned over to the Central Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines on May 1 at CentCom Headquarters, Camp Lapu-Lapu, Brgy. Apas, this city.
The EQF was donated by San Miguel Corporation (SMC), and was built through the coordination and efforts of the Central Command, AFP and 53rd Engineer Brigade, Philippine Army respectively.
The facility is equipped with hospital beds, portable toilets, testing shower, nurses’ area, as well as sanitation and disinfection areas which can accommodate 15 patients of military personnel, civilian employees, and their dependents with symptomatic COVID-19 infections.
The EQF is sealed with a single air pass (non-circulating) ventilation with the incorporation of a negative pressure system.
Construction of the facility started on April 17, 2020 and has been completed on April 26, 2020 worth P500,00.
Commander of the 53rd Engineer Brigade, Col. Gerardo Catindoy CE (GSC) PA, has acknowledged in his remarks the generosity of the SMC for donating the quarantine facility that will serve as a medium in helping soldiers and local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the turnover ceremony, Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan AFP Commander, Central Command received the quarantine facility from SMC represented by Lt. Gen. John Bonafos (Ret).
Prior to that, a Deed of Donation was signed between the AFP-Department of National Defense and SMC.
Dr. Shawn Espina, one of the lead consultants of Department of Health (DOH) and a team of architects of Cebu Bayanihan-Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) worked together to ensure that the said facility will adhere to DOH’s safety standards.
Espina said the facility is considered as Level 1 quarantine facility that can accommodate COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms.
Ancan has tasked the 53rd Engineer Brigade to enhance the EQF to accommodate the probable cases of COVID-19 patients showing mild symptoms.
A plaque of appreciation was given to SMC from the Central Command, after which the blessing of the facility was done led by Capt. Robert Diosay CHS (PA), brigade chaplain.
Due to the overcrowding incidents of the existing healthcare facility in many hospitals, the Emergency Quarantine Facility Project was made possible through the concerted efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, San Miguel Corporation (SMC), and WTA Architecture and Design Studio to efficiently accommodate COVID-19 patients, and contribute in easing the congestion in various health facilities within the city. (hfg/PIA7 with reports from AFP Central Command)
source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1040751