MANILA -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has reponded anew to the demands of the times with the completion and turn-over of new hospital facilities in Quezon City and Mandaluyong City. 

DPWH Secretary Roger G. Mercado, citing a report from Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, said that a combined total of 178 beds were added to available healthcare facilities of three (3) hospitals namely East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) and National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City and National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) in Mandaluyong City. 

“Since the pandemic hit in 2020, the DPWH thru Task Force for Augmentation of Health Facilities headed by Undersecretary Sadain never became complacent and have been relentless in planning and implementing projects that are vital in supporting the Philippines healthcare system”, added Secretary Mercado. 

Undersecretary Sadain turnover on Monday, January 10, 2022 the completed dormitory facility to EAMC Medical Center Chief Dr. Alfonso G. Nuñez III and Chief Medical Professional Staff Dr. Alan Troy D. Baquir. 

The temporary living quarters put up by DPWH Quezon City 2nd District Engineering Office has 32 rooms meant to improve the billeting conditions of EAMC frontliners dealing with the surge of COVID-19 cases. 

DPWH Quezon City 2nd District Engineering Office (DEO) headed by District Engineer Eduardo Santos also completed and turnedover to the management of National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) a 16-bed hospital facility made of converted container vans equipped with healthcare amenities, and two (2) stations/office for doctors and nurses. 

In Mandaluyong City, the Department of Health (DOH) formally received on January 10, 2022 the DPWH-built mega modular hospital facilities for emerging infectious diseases at the NCMH compound. 

DPWH National Capital Region (NCR) Director Nomer Abel P. Canlas with DPWH Metro Manila First District Engineer Medel F. Chua represented Secretary Mercado and Undersecretary Sadain in the turnover of facilities to DOH Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega, DOH Assistant Secretaries Elmer Punzalan and Romeo Ong, and NCMH Medical Center Chief Noel V. Reyes. 

The DPWH NCR and Metro Manila First District Engineering Office jointly implemented the site development and putting up of the NCMH hospital facilities composed of five (5) cluster units of modular hospital each with 22 rooms for a total of 110 beds and one (1) modular intensive care unit building with 20 beds. 

“We hope that through the additional health facilities, we have contributed to the government’s response in dealing with unprecedented hike of individuals infected by COVID-19 and other infectious diseases”, said Undersecretary Sadain. 

As of end of December 20281, no less than 820 healthcare facilities with a total bed capacity of 30,234 were completed by DPWH that augment health service nationwide. 

Facilities completed consists of 736 units of quarantine/isolation facilities with 28,195 beds; 29 modular hospitals with 595 beds; and 55 off-site dormitories with 1,444 beds for medical personnel and other frontliners. (DPWH)