Metro Manila’s biggest COVID-19 isolation facility will soon open after the Solaire-PAGCOR Mega Quarantine Center in Bagong Nayong Pilipino, Parañaque City was inaugurated and turned over by the Razon Group to the national government on Tuesday, September 29.
The ceremony was led by National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chairman and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vince Dizon, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Prime BMD CEO J.V. Emmanuel “Jocot” De Dios, and Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary for Project Management Office Emil Sadain. Also present were Ach. Dan Lichauco of Archion Architects and Maynilad Head Assistant Vice President for Government Relations Ms. Annette de Ocampo.
“I still remember when we started the IATF sometime in March, we found out how woefully inadequate our facilities were and the hospitals were also not prepared to accept cases of COVID-19. Judging from the experience of other countries, the number one purpose of [our] lockdown, was to enable us to build our capacities. Fast forward, we now have a lot of facilities and this is the newest one. We hope to put up more isolation facilities not only in Metro Manila but also in the regions,” Lorenzana said.
The Solaire-PAGCOR Mega Quarantine Center has a 600-bed capacity for COVID-19 patients with mild and no symptoms. Constructed in less than two months, the facility will be manned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Health Service Command and is being eyed to be operational by November.
Patients to be accommodated in the said facility are the ones referred by local government units as well as by the One Hospital Command Center.
“We cannot thank the Razon Group enough for really building this in record time. This will go a long way in our efforts especially now that we are focusing on reopening the economy. Isolation facilities such as these will really play a critical role in ensuring that we are able to manage COVID-19 cases as we allow more people to go back to work,” Dizon said.
According to Dizon, Metro Manila presently has about 28,000-bed capacity in its isolation facilities including those under the local government units and the isolation hotels commissioned by the national government under Oplan Kalinga.
The Department of Public Works and Highways is also implementing the construction of 131 quarantine facilities in the National Capital Region with a 5,000-bed capacity. Of this number, 52 facilities have been completed.
“While we have relied on large-scale infrastructure projects to underpin our business and growth, we are greatly honored to have been able to participate in this project. We are very proud to be involved in the fight against COVID-19 and to be able to deliver this facility to the government. We will not be able to accomplish this without the different government agencies [that] work tirelessly,” De Dios said.
Prime BMD is the construction arm of the Razon Group. The Group has also been involved in the construction of We Heal As One Centers at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium and the Rizal Memorial Complex.