Mega Ligtas COVID Centers

Mega Ligtas COVID Centers,[1] also known as Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs),[2] are temporary non-hospital health facilities or emergency patient care centers (PCCs) established and managed by the Philippine government to accommodate COVID-19 patients at a provincial or regional level as part of its efforts to deal with the pandemic in the country.[1][3] Some facilities are also serving as quarantine sites for Filipino repatriates from other countries.[4]

Mega Ligtas COVID Centers
The Ninoy Aquino Stadium refurbished as a health facility.
Geography
LocationVarious (16 sites), Philippines
Organization
TypeTemporary isolation / quarantine center
Affiliated universityNone
Services
Beds~2,452 (combined)
History
Construction started2020
OpenedApril 14, 2020 (2020-04-14) (first site)
Links
ListsHospitals in the Philippines

The establishment of such facilities are led by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) coordinating with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and other private and government entities by refurbishing pre-existing structures or setting up makeshift tents. The first We Heal as One Center was the facility at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, an indoor arena within the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila which was refurbished as a health facility on April 6 and admitted its first patient on April 14.[4] At least seven other facilities became operational at a later date. The government is planning to open more facilities in Cebu.[5]

Some of these facilities are known as We Heal as One Centers, adapted from the COVID-19 solidarity campaign in the Philippines, "We Heal as One" which in turn was derived from the slogan of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, hosted by the country, "We Win as One".[6]

"Mega" in the name of the Mega Ligtas COVID Centers does not connote bed capacity, with the smallest Mega Ligtas COVID Center being the 28-bed capacity BRP Ang Pangulo. Isolation/quarantine facilities managed by local government units rather than the national government are officially known as "Ligtas COVID Centers" regardless of bed capacity.[1] Both Ligtas COVID Centers and Mega Ligtas COVID Centers are classed as Community Isolation Units.[1]

Facilities
We Heal as One Center logo.

ASEAN Convention Center

The ASEAN Convention Center at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga was converted to a quarantine facility with a capacity of 150 beds.[7][8]

New Clark City Government Center

The New Clark City Government Center building at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac was initially equipped with at least 400 beds, though its capacity is expandable to 1,000 beds.[7] It admitted its first batch of patients on May 7, consisting of 50 COVID-19 positive Overseas Filipino Workers. At that time the bed capacity has already been expanded to 688.[9]

Filinvest Tent
Beds inside the refurbished Filinvest Tent

The Filinvest Tent, an existing 20 square meters (220 sq ft) tent which serves events venue at Filinvest City in Muntinlupa,[10] was repurposed into a 108-bed quarantine facility. The Filinvest Development Corporation sponsored the construction materials, while EEI Corporation was responsible for providing manpower for the refurbishing. The Villar Group of Companies gave hospital beds.[11][12]

Philippine Sports Complex
We Heal As One Center at the PhilSports Arena.

The PhilSports Arena within the PhilSports Complex in Pasig was converted to a 132-bed quarantine facility by the Villar Group and the DPWH in April 2020.[13][14] On May 15, the indoor arena-turned quarantine facility received its first COVID-19 patient.[15]

Rizal Memorial Sports Complex

The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila hosts We Heal As One Centers in two of its indoor arenas; the Rizal Memorial Coliseum and the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Rizal Memorial Coliseum
Beds at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Rizal Memorial Coliseum facility has 98 beds. The indoor arena refurbishment as a quarantine facility was done by the DPWH, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in cooperation with Razon Group of Companies. The conversion was completed on April 9.[4]

Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Perimeter of the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, which was used as a quarantine center.

The first ever We Heal as One Center is the refurbished Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The indoor arena was converted to a 112-bed capacity quarantine facility on April 6.[4] The facility started operations on April 8. On May 9, the quarantine facility recorded its biggest recovery with 21 patients given medical clearance.[16]

PICC Forum

The PICC Forum, an existing 4.292 square metres (46.20 sq ft) tent structure used for events part of the Philippine International Convention Center complex, was converted to a quarantine facility.[17] The DPWH worked with the Villar Group and EEI Corporation for the refurbishment of the facility which was completed on April 8.[4] The PICC Forum hosts 294 beds and has started accepting patients on April 28.[17]

World Trade Center Manila

The World Trade Center Manila, a convention center in Pasay, was installed with 502 beds as part of its refurbishment as a quarantine facility. The conversion completed on April 9 done by the DPWH, BCDA in cooperation with the Ayala Group of Companies.[4] On April 24, the facility admitted returning Overseas Filipino Workers from the United Arab Emirates who will stay inside to undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine.[18]

Philippine Arena Complex
One of the three tents of the We Heal as One Center–Philippine Arena Complex.

The Iglesia ni Cristo, a Christian denomination affiliated with the Ciudad de Victoria development in Santa Maria and Bocaue, Bulacan offered the area free of charge to the government to be used as a quarantine site. The setting up of a We Heal as One Center at the Ciudad de Victoria was done by the joint efforts of the Department Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Philippine Arena management and MVP Group of Companies. Three big tents near the Philippine Arena were converted to quarantine facilities.[19] The health facility complex was turned over to the government on April 30, 2020.[20]

The bed capacity and area of the three tents were as follows:[19]

  • Tent 1 – 92 beds; 26 m × 105 m (85 ft × 344 ft)
  • Tent 2 – 104 beds; 50 m × 60 m (160 ft × 200 ft)
  • Tent 3 – 104 beds; 50 m × 60 m (160 ft × 200 ft)

List
Facility Site location Maximum capacity Completed[4] Opened[lower-alpha 1] Refs.
Ninoy Aquino Stadium Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila 112 beds April 6, 2020 April 8, 2020 [4][16]
Philippine International Convention Center PICC Forum, Pasay 294 beds April 8, 2020 April 28, 2020 [17]
Rizal Memorial Coliseum Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila 98 beds April 9, 2020 Unknown [4]
World Trade Center World Trade Center Manila, Pasay 502 beds April 9, 2020 April 24, 2020 [3][18]
ASEAN Convention Center ASEAN Convention Center, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 150 beds April 12, 2020 Unknown [7][8]
New Clark City Government Center National Government Administrative Center, New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac 688 beds[lower-alpha 2] April 12, 2020 May 7, 2020 [7][9]
Philippine Sports Complex (ULTRA) PhilSports Arena, Pasig 132 beds April 18, 2020 May 15, 2020 [13][15][14]
Philippine Arena Complex Ciudad de Victoria, Bulacan 300 beds April 29, 2020 Unknown [19]
The Filinvest Tent Filinvest City, Muntinlupa 108 beds May 11, 2020 Unknown [12]
Alonte Sports Arena Alonte Sports Arena, Biñan, Laguna 68 beds May 28, 2020 Unknown [21]
Quezon Institute Quezon Institute, Quezon City 112 beds Unknown [22]
NCC Athlete's Village Athlete's Village, New Clark City Sports Hub, New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac 369 beds Unknown [23]
Las Piñas Rehabilitation Center Las Piñas 55 beds Unknown [24]
IC3 COVID-19 TTMF IC3 Convention Center, Cebu City 130 beds Unknown [25]
Eva Macapagal Super Terminal Pier 15, Port of Manila, Manila 211 beds Unknown [26]
Presidential Yacht BRP Ang Pangulo (ACS-25) BRP Ang Pangulo docked at Pier 13, Port of Manila, Manila 28 beds Unknown [27]

Notes
  1. First patients or repatriates admitted.
  2. Expandable to 1000 beds.

References
  1. "Responding to COVID-19" (PDF). The President's Penultimate Report To The People 2016-2020. Office of the President - Presidential Management Staff. 2020.
  2. "Joint Administrative Order No. 2020-01" (PDF). Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government. April 15, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  3. "BCDA: Patients in 'We Heal as One' centers recovering". People's Tonight. April 28, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  4. Patinio, Ferdinand (April 29, 2020). "7 'mega community quarantine' facilities completed: DPWH". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  5. "Gov't to expand quarantine facilities, lab capacity in Cebu, says COVID-19 response deputy chief implementer | Bases Conversion and Development Authority". bcda.gov.ph.
  6. "Sports stadium opens as quarantine centre in Philippines' 'We Heal As One' campaign". Olympic Council of Asia. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  7. Datu, Carlo Lorenzo (April 11, 2020). "'We Heal As One' Centers in Clark ready to accept COVID-19 patients". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  8. "We Heal As One Centers in Clark prepare to accept COVID-19 patients | Bases Conversion and Development Authority". bcda.gov.ph.
  9. "We Heal As One Center–New Clark City receives first batch of COVID patients | Bases Conversion and Development Authority". bcda.gov.ph.
  10. "Works to convert Filinvest Tent in Alabang into quarantine facility begin – DPWH". Manila Bulletin. April 30, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  11. Marasigan, Lorenz (May 16, 2020). "New facility for Covid-19 patients rises in Muntinlupa". BusinessMirror. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  12. "Filinvest tent 'We Heal As One' center completed". Manila Bulletin. May 11, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  13. "Villar Group completes 'We Heal as One' Center at ULTRA in 3 days". BusinessMirror. April 28, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  14. "We Heal As One Center—PhilSports Arena to operate soon | Bases Conversion and Development Authority". bcda.gov.ph.
  15. "PNP: PhilSports Arena receives its first COVID-19 patient". ABS-CBN News. May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  16. Sadongdong, Martin (May 11, 2020). "Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila records 21 as highest single-day recovery". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  17. "Official Statement from the Philippine International Convention Center on the Conversion of the PICC Forum as a Step-down Facility for COVID-19 Cases". Philippine International Convention Center. April 28, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  18. "Returning OFWs undergo quarantine at We Heal As One Center-World Trade Center | Bases Conversion and Development Authority". bcda.gov.ph.
  19. "PH Arena's Covid-19 center built via PPP". Philippine News Agency. April 28, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  20. "Gov't to put up mega swabbing centers to boost PH's mass testing capacity | Bases Conversion and Development Authority". bcda.gov.ph.
  21. "Health facility in Alonte Sports Arena to operate in the coming days – DPWH". Manila Bulletin News.
  22. Marquez, Consuelo (April 2, 2020). "Quezon Institute to become quarantine facility for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients". INQUIRER.net.
  23. "Tarlac Quarantine Facility At NCC Now Operational". The Manila Times. May 6, 2020.
  24. "Las Piñas City records highest recovery rate in a day". www.pna.gov.ph.
  25. "Bayanihan Cebu opens COVID-19 center in IC3". INQUIRER.net. May 26, 2020.
  26. Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (April 20, 2020). "Port terminal-turned-COVID-19 facility ready to accept patients with mild symptoms". INQUIRER.net.
  27. "PH Navy ready to convert presidential yacht into medical ship". www.pna.gov.ph.
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