DPWH Turned Carmona Evacuation Center into Quarantine Hub in Cavite

An evacuation center at Brgy Lantic, Carmona, Cavite built by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the local government unit of Carmona is now being readied as temporary facilities for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients.

Secretary Mark A. Villar said that the transformation of Carmona Evacuation Center into makeshift hospital with 151 bed cubicles including provision of laundry area, nursing station, and X ray room in accordance with the recommendations of the Department of Health is target for completion and turn over by September 4, 2020.

The repurposing of the Carmona Evacuation Center into mega quarantine facility was started immediately after a memorandum of agreement was signed on August 14 by DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain and Carmona Mayor Roy M. Loyola during the Inter Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases or IATF caravan spearheaded by DPWH as member agency for COVID-19 Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic or COVID-19 CODE Team. The COVID-19 CODE Team is focus on the development of strategies, plans and measures for the second phase of the national action plan against COVID-19.

The construction of mega quarantine facilities in the 3,000 square meters multi-purpose building will facilitate isolation and treatment and care of COVID patients from Carmona and other parts of the industrial zone of Calabarzon.

According to Undersecretary Sadain, head of the DPWH Task Force to Facilitate Augmentation of National and Local Health Facilities formed by Secretary Villar, no less than the LGU requested to DPWH the conversion of the evacuation center and it is best that more health system are ready and capable to handle COVID situation.

The building in Carmona was initially built by DPWH as typical 45 beds evacuation facility but was enhanced into bigger multi-purpose building with basketball court by the LGU.

Similar to other mega quarantine faciliities completed by DPWH, the DPWH Task Force with Technical Bureau Directors Ernesto Gregorio Jr, Aristarco Doroy, Eric Ayapana and Edgardo Garces are closely monitoring the project under implementation supervision of Region 4A Asistant Director Jovel Mendoza and Cavite 3rd District Engineer Donnie Cuna.