The Ninoy Aquino Stadium at the Rizal Memorial Complex has been converted into an ‘instant hospital’ and will be ready to accept Covid-positive patients with mild symptoms and those who are asymptomatic on Wednesday, April 8. The 112-bed stadium which will be manned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Corps has air-conditioned cubicles, plug-in outlets, free internet connection and round-the-clock monitoring by the medical staff. Free food will also be provided to both patients and frontliners in all quarantine facilities being readied by the national government.
Prime BMD and Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, Inc. of the Razon Group fast-tracked the completion of the Ninoy Aquino Stadium quarantine facility in just five days. The facility was inspected Monday by National Task Force COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, BCDA President and CEO and Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects Vince Dizon, and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Emil Sadain. They also inspected two other quarantine facilities, the Philippine International Convention Center and World Trade Center.
The establishment of instant hospitals in Metro Manila and other parts of the country is a joint effort by the national government and the private sector to reduce the community spread of COVID-19, decongest hospitals in Metro Manila and ensure protection of both patients and frontliners from the disease.