A 50-bed isolation facility completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was turned over to the Department of Health (DOH) and local government of Nasipit, Agusan Del Norte.
DPWH Secretary and Isolation Czar Mark A. Villar said that the newly constructed quarantine facility will help augment the health care capacity of Municipality of Nasipit and neighboring towns of Agusan Del Norte.
“This isolation facility built by the DPWH Regional Office 13 and Agusan Del Norte District Engineering Office following the standard design prepared by the DPWH Task Force to Facilitate Augmentation of Local and National Health Facilities to prevent further transmission of the virus is part of the proactive response of the government in containing the spread of the virus” added Secretary Villar.
The local government officials of the Province of Agusan Del Norte expressed sincerest thanks to Secretary Villar, DPWH Task Force and his local team in putting up the isolation facility.
Representing Secretary Villar at the inauguration and turn over ceremony of the quarantine facility held Monday, October 19, 2020 was DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, head of Task Force to Facilitate Augmentation of Local and National Health Facilities.
The event was attended by Agusan del Norte Governor Dale Corvera, Congresswoman Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante Matba, Nasipit Mayor Enrico Convera, DPWH Region 13 Director Pol M. Delos Santos, Department of Health (DOH) Region 13 Director Jose R. Llacuna, Jr.
Also present are DPWH Task Force technical working group members namely Bureau of Design Director Aristarco Doroy; Bureau of Construction Director Eric Ayapana and Asst. Director Edgar Garces; and Project Director Virgilio C. Castillo of Unified Project Management Office-Roads Management Cluster.
The Nasipit Quarantine Facility situated in a 3,519 square meter lot consists of two (2) separate buildings for male and female with four (4) units toilet for male, five (5) units for female, one (1) unit each for person with disability and a total of 16 bathrooms.
Also included in the facility is a medical personnel’s quarter with toilet and bathroom and food preparation/kitchen area.
DPWH will continue to exert extra efforts to ensure we help the entire country rise up in this time of struggle, and for us, that’s what keeps the Bayanihan alive,” Undersecretary Sadain added.
Isolation center are on the works in different locations in Northeastern Mindanao or Caraga Region: Brgy Baan, Km 3, Butuan City with 50 bed capacity implemented by Butuan City District Engineering Office; Brgy Consuelo, Bunawan, Agusan Del Sur with 50 bed capacity implemented by Agusan Del Sur 2nd District Engineering Office; Brgy Silop and Cagniog, Surigao City each with 50 bed capacity implemented by Surigao Del Norte 2nd District Engineering Office; and Brgy Tabon, Bislig City with 54 bed capacity implemented by Surigao Del Sur 2nd District Engineering Office.
More health facilities would be built by DPWH under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) to improve capability to isolate Covid-19 patients away from their communities and further halt the spread of the disease.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary Sadain also inspected the Butuan City Medical Center following a request for assistance by Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente C. Lagnada to expand the hospital bed capacity and boost the city’s war against the deadly virus.
