Nayong Quarantine’ reveals story behind NCR’s biggest facility

By Azer Parrocha The Presidential Communications public should learn to live with the virus Operations Office (PCOO), through as the country plans to gradually and the Office of the Global Media and safely reopen the economy. Public Affairs (OGMPA), will feature “What is important now is we should the government’s isolation strategy learn to live with Covid-19. That’s what under the National Action Plan against they call the new normal, and the Covid-19 by bringing viewers inside the minimum health standard is important. Bagong Nayong Pilipino Quarantine Our critical response to prevent the Facility, the largest quarantine facility further spread of Covid-19 is building in Metro Manila for coronavirus disease more isolation facilities,” Dizon said, 2019, in the fifth episode of the Laging who is the President and CEO of the Handa Dokyu series entitled “Nayong Bases Conversion and Development Quarantine.” Authority, as well as the Presidential “The Bagong Nayong Pilipino Adviser for Flagship Programs and Mega Quarantine Facility in Parañaque Projects. City is part of the isolation component The Bagong Nayong Pilipino of the National Action Plan (NAP) to Mega Quarantine Facility is constructed ensure that our asymptomatic and mild in partnership with the Razon Group Covid-19 patients are in a comfortable through Prime Metro BMD Corporation place while being quarantined,” and Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, Presidential Communications Secretary Inc. It has an open-air design which Martin Andanar said. allows the patients to roam outside “This is one of many additional their room to exercise, breathe fresh isolation facilities to be built nationwide, air, and to be exposed to sunlight, in a collaborative effort of the national while air-conditioning system and Wi-Fi government and private sector, in are provided inside the tents and the preparation for the reopening of our patient rooms. economy, and for us to live with the Manned by the Armed Forces virus in the new normal,” he added. of the Philippines (AFP) Health Service National Task Force (NTF) Against Command, the Bagong Nayong Covid-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Pilipino Quarantine Facility has a 600and Testing Czar Vince Dizon said the bed capacity that accommodates

asymptomatic Covid-19 patients as well as those with have mild symptoms. According to Col. Fatima Claire Navarro, Deputy Commander of AFP Regional Joint Task Force National Capital Region, they coordinate with the One Hospital Command Center and provide assistance to quarantined patients, from admission to treatment. “We are always put in the frontline and of course as a doctor, it’s an inherent calling to all of us. The main drive is really the happiness of being given the opportunity to really serve and maximize whatever potentials that the AFP has given us,” Navarro said. Part of the isolation strategy featured in the documentary is the Oplan Kalinga Program, where Covid-19 patients without adequate isolation areas in their homes are brought to a proper temporary treatment and monitoring facility to prevent any possible transmission of the virus to their families. The Department of Public Works and Highways is working to build a total of 603 isolation facilities with a

21,609-bed capacity, as well as 75 offsite dormitories throughout the country for medical workers with a 1,806-bed capacity. The succeeding episodes of the Laging Handa Dokyu will tour the public in the new normal tourism way of Baguio City, its local contact tracing and testing efforts, the Philippines’ development of testing laboratories, participation in clinical trials, the best practices of local government units, and the experiences of some government officials hit by Covid-19. Catch “Nayong Quarantine” at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday on PTV-4 and IBC-13. It will also be livestreamed on the Presidential Communications Operations Office, NTF Covid-19, and The BCDA Group Facebook pages, as well as other government-affiliated social media pages. Media outlets are free to share and use our video materials and short documentaries. For inquiries, please e-mail us at pcooglobalmedia@pco. gov.ph. (PCOO PR)