CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–In responding to the threats of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-10 built over 500 isolation units in various provinces and cities in the region.
As of October 19, there are 300 isolation units built in Lanao del Norte, 240 in Iligan City and 60 in Lanao del Sur. DPWH-10 has already completed these units and turned over such to the local government units (LGUs), Vinah Maghinay, DPWH-10 information officer said during the NorMin COVID-19 Response Task Force press conference, October 30.
There is also an ongoing construction of isolation units in Macasandig (56) and Upper Puerto in CDO, and Oroquieta City in Misamis Occidental with a 90 bed-capacity unit.
There are also proposed isolation units in Gingoog, Misamis Oriental and Upper Puerto, CDO.
To complete a certain project, Maghinay said DPWH releases funds based on phases. Thus, the project phase for CY 2020 will only get funding for this year while the continuation of the project will have its corresponding fund release in the following year or indicated date of implementation.
About 15 percent advance payment is also processed to mobilize the contractors and full payment will be settled through billing.
For unsettled works, Maghinay said DPWH will not release funds to the contractor.
For Iligan City, Department of Health (DOH)-10 Regional Director Adriano Suba-an commends the LGU as they converted an unutilized space into an isolation or temporary treatment and monitoring facility (TTMF).
Suba-an also cited Cagayan de Oro’s initiative in establishing the 75-bed capacity isolation unit in Barangay San Simon.
“That will not just end as an Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Disease (EREID) facility as it may evolve as the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) of the south,” Suba-an added.
As of October 30, there are a total of 4,968 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in northern Mindanao, wherein 2,800 have recovered, 129 have expired, and 2,039 are recovering. (RTP/PIA10)
