The We Heal As One Center-PhilSports Arena in Pasig City will soon be operational for Covid-positive patients as government proactively reduces community spread of the disease.
National Task Force COVID-19 Spokesperson Major General Restituto Padilla (Ret.), Mayor Victor “Vico” Sotto, Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary for Health Facilities and Infrastructure Development Dr. Leonita Gorgolon, and Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects and BCDA President and CEO Vince Dizon inspected the 132-bed capacity PhilSports complex on Tuesday, April 21.
“I want to congratulate everyone who was a part of making this facility possible, BCDA, DOH, DPWH. Napakabilis nilang gumawa, limang araw lang natapos na nila itong facility na ito. Patunay lang na kapag nagtutulungan, kaya nating kumilos nang mas mabilis,” Mayor Sotto said.
“Ito’y makakatulong hindi lang sa Pasig kung di sa eastern Metro Manila. Makakatulong po ito sa surrounding LGUs [local government units] so we’re very thankful. On behalf of the local government of Pasig City, I want to thank everyone who made this possible. Hopefully this will be up and running in the next few days,” he added.
Gen. Padilla also reiterated the need for unity among Filipinos in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Importante ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino kaya tayo gumagawa ng mga ganitong klaseng hakbang. At kung hindi natin gagawin ang ating responsibilidad, ang ating sariling parte, wala pong mangyayari sa atin. Iisang barko lang po ang sinasakyan natin, may butas na po ang barko at lulubog ‘yan kapag hindi tayo nag-ingat at hindi tayo magtulungan. Kaya kung gusto nating patuloy na maglayag ang barko, patuloy na matahak sa direksyon na gusto natin, kailangan magsama-sama tayo,” Gen. Padilla said.
The PhilSports Arena will house patients with mild or no symptoms. Just like the other We Heal As One Centers, the arena has color-coded air-conditioned cubicles, free internet connection, free food for patients and frontliners, and round-the-clock medical care.
“Iyong paggawa ng facility, first step pa lang ‘yon. Ang pinaka-importante din kasi iyong tamang operations ng facility…at iyong sistema para masigurado na maaalagaan talaga nila iyong mga pasyente natin at the same time, protektado iyong mga frontliners natin. Kaya nagpapasalamat din tayo sa private sector kasi maraming dumadagsang donations sa mga quarantine facilties natin. From [hygiene] kits ng ating mga pasyente to the more sophisticated equipment like mobile X-ray machines, ECG machines na kakailanganin natin in case of emergency,” says Secretary Dizon.
The conversion of Metro Manila facilities into We Heal As One Centers is an initiative led by NTF Covid-19 chief implementer and Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr. together with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar, DPWH Task Force on Augmentation of Healthcare Facilities led by Undersecretary Emil Sadain, and Secretary Dizon.
For this initiative, the national government partnered with the private sector namely, the Razon Group (Prime Metro BMD Corporation and the Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, Inc.), EEI Corporation, Boysen Philippines, Inc., Vista Land, the Ayala Group (AC Energy, Ayala Land, Makati Development Corporation), Filinvest, Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines, Aboitiz, World Trade Center Metro Manila, Lina Group of Companies, Meralco, PLDT, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, D.M. Consunji, Inc., and the Concepcion Industrial Corporation.