DOH, DPWH open BatMC modular COVID-19 treatment facilities

by Patricia Bermudez May 24, 2021 (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) Assistant Regional Director...

by Patricia Bermudez
May 24, 2021

(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) Assistant Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco, Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega, Assistant Secretary Maria Francia Laxamana and DPWH 2nd District of Batangas Engineer Sonia D. Paglicauan led the inauguration of the three modular treatment facilities at the Batangas Medical Center, which aims to cater to more COVID-19 patients. /DOH 4-A

BATANGAS CITY - Major hospitals in Batangas province will soon expand their capacity after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Health (DOH) formally opened the three modular treatment facilities at the Batangas Medical Center (BatMC) last April 30.

Together with DOH - CALABARZON Assistant Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco, and BatMC Chief Ramoncito Magnaye, Assistant Secretary Maria Francia Laxamana led the opening of the said facility, which aims to cater to more COVID-19 patients.



DPWH Batangas 2nd District Engineer Sonia Paglicauan said the agency aims to provide more rooms for treatment and management of COVID-19 patients in the city, adding that the off site modular facilities at the BatMC was made possible through the DPWH Task Force to Facilitate Augmentation of Local/National Health Facilities.

Aside from the 22-bed typical designed and one (1) 10-bed ICU type modular hospital in Batangas CIty, several modular facilities in DOH hospitals are already completed in other parts of Metro Manila, including an ICU type, 16-bed facility at the Lung Center of the Philippines; four typical designed and one (1) 110-bed ICU type modular hospital at Quezon Institute - Philippine Tuberculosis Society Inc. (QI-PTSI) in Quezon City; one (1) typical designed , 22-bed modular hospital at Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium in Caloocan City.



“This will greatly benefit the hospital as it will increase its bed-capacity with additional 10 rooms for intensive care units and 21 rooms for isolation and monitoring of mild Covid symptoms,” Sydiongco said of the facility that will be managed by the BatMC.

For their part, the DOH provided the medical equipment needed for the facility, while the regional health office augmented the needed staff, including doctors and nurses.



“The Department of Health extends its utmost gratitude for the DPWH’s support and assistance in providing facilities to augment our hospital’s need for additional rooms for healthcare service for Covid patients in the province of Batangas,” Laxamana said.

“The COVID-19 modular facilities at BatMC will help accommodate possible surge of cases in the province, including patients from adjacent provinces of Laguna, Cavite, and Quezon,” said BatMC Chief Ramoncito Magnaye as he thanked the DPWH for helping increase their hospital capacity for treating COVID-19 patients. (PB/DOH 4-A)