The Iloilo City Government has been given the green light by the Department of Health (DOH) to establish a modular hospital.
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said the construction of the hospital in Barangay Sooc, Arevalo district will be undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The construction will commence once the DPWH receives the emergency funds from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
The 66-bed modular hospital will exclusively cater to “Ilonggo COVID-19 patients.” Specifically, it will be built near the city’s quarantine facility and off-site dormitory for medical workers.
Treñas said the facility seeks to address the high health care utilization rate (HCUR) considering the city-based facilities also cater to patients from five neighboring provinces in Panay Island.
The HCUR for COVID-19 in the city, as of September 12, is at high risk. The city is among the areas in the country that have been placed under Alert Level 4.
The city mayor is looking forward to enhance the city’s health services particularly in the fight against COVID-19 with the establishment of the modular hospital.
“These temporary medical facilities will help lower our quarantine classification and assist our patients while they recover from the deadly virus,” he said Treñas.
The city government will provide logistics and human resources and has partnered with The Medical City Iloilo to manage the facility for mild to moderate cases.
An additional 32 isolation beds will also be built in front of the existing one, also in Barangay Sooc.
The isolation and quarantine facilities will form part of the proposed hospital in collaboration with the DOH.IMT
