A 5,000-square-meter property located at the North Reclamation Area (NRA) is being prepared for the construction of a quarantine center that will house Cebu City residents who will be diagnosed with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The facility, which will be placed on Block 27 at the NRA, will be constructed by the Cebu City government.

Lawyer Jose Daluz III, chairman of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District board of directors, and the City’s special assistant for budget concerns, told reporters that the quarantine center, which is collapsible, can be completed in 10 days.

He said it will be a one-story building that can accommodate 300 patients.

Daluz added that the facility is designed to house patients positive of the novel coronavirus with mild, moderate and severe conditions.

He said the quarantine center will be run by the Cebu City Medical Center.

The City will hire health volunteers to assist medical personnel in managing the facility and the patients.

“The structure can be removed. In the future, magamit nato. Kuhaon na nato. Ang permanent ra jud diha is the flooring (In the future, we can use the building. We can get it. The only permanent thing there is the flooring),” Daluz added.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health Central Visayas Development Covid-19 Center will be set up at the satellite campus of the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu in General Maxilom Avenue in Cebu City.

Based on a memorandum of agreement signed by Dr. Jaime Bernadas, DOH 7 director and Rev. Fr. Manuel Uy, S.J., the DOH shall be in charge in setting up and maintaining the site, including a quarantine area of 50 beds, triage area for patients, temporary laboratory facility for testing of Covid-19, DOH operation center, equipment, machinery, and related appendices or tools. (JCT, PR)