NEW Clark City (NCC) opened the first exclusive temporary treatment and monitoring facility (TTMF) for healthcare workers in Central Luzon.

Department of Health (DOH) and National Government Administrative Center Phase 1 Joint Venture (NGAC JV) converted Building 2 of The Residences as a TTMF to cater to healthcare workers that are suspect, probable or confirmed with mild symptoms of Covid-19.

DOH Assistant Secretary Maria Francia Laxamana said the conversion is considered a milestone amid the pandemic, as it is only now that healthcare workers are provided a TTMF.

“We have to give this to our healthcare workers because NCC has a very good ambiance, so when our healthcare workers will look outside their windows, they will see a really nice place,” she said.

The 165-bed capacity Banahaw building will be leased to DOH by NGAC for P13,200,000 in a period of three months from April 19 until July 18, 2021 as stated in the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed Monday, May 3.

Laxamana said that though recognized as modern-day heroes, the healthcare workers are not given priority in quarantine facilities as the hospitals are in full-capacity with the patients, and hotels are allotted for returning Overseas Filipinos.

Banahaw Residences is free of charge, and healthcare workers to be quarantined will be allowed the use of the amenities such as Wi-Fi services, refrigerator and washing machine.

“When they go out, I hope they will give a very good impression, and they will say that though we are lacking in terms of financial assistance and their salaries, there is healthcare, emotional, and psychological assistance,” she said.

As stated in the MOA, DOH-Central Luzon Center for Health Development is the over-all facility manager that will provide the operational expenses and necessary human resource for health, and care of the patients.

Also, the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital will manage the hospital and medical services, and shall serve as the surge extension facility for the TTMF.

For its part, NGAC JV President Patrick Nicholas David said that NCC is accommodating 778 patients as of May 3 in five different buildings converted as quarantine facilities. They come from various parts of Central Luzon and National Capital Region.

“MTD Capital Berhad and NGAC JV have supported this endeavor from the very beginning. We will be here to support the national government in this fight against Covid-19,” he said.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Cesar Idio also announced that they will shoulder the food services throughout the period of operation of the Banahaw Residences.

“OCD supports the conversion of NGAC into a TTMF to help alleviate the country from its accelerating surge of Covid-19 cases. The food services will be tirelessly delivered because our healthcare workers deserve excellent health care. Our people deserve a safer, active, and disaster-resilient Philippines without the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

DOH Regional Director Corazon Flores, for her part, thanked the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and other partners for showing their care to healthcare workers.

“We are very much thankful for this partnership with BCDA in caring for our healthcare workers. The additional building converted to TTMF will be used to specifically cater our frontline healthcare workers infected with Covid-19. For us to be able to go on this fight against pandemic, we have to maintain our health system capacity. To all the institutions and agencies who made this project possible, Thank you!” she said. (PIA)