Philippine Arena set to open as 'mega-quarantine' facility for COVID-19

MANILA - The Philippine Arena, the world's largest indoor arena, is set to be used as a "mega-quarantine" facility that will house possible carriers of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an official said Friday.

Religious sect Iglesia Ni Cristo, which owns the arena in Bulacan, has agreed to allow temporarily transform the facility to quarantine patients in Central Luzon, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) Vince Dizon said during the Laging Handa briefing.

"Ang Philippine Arena ay magiging isang mega-quarantine facility sa Central Luzon," he said.

The government is currently constructing isolation rooms and sealed nurse stations in the Philippine Arena and at least a dozen other sports stadiums to ensure that the spread of the virus will not worsen inside these quarantine facilities, he said.

"The facilities are designed to make sure that patients are comfortable," said architect Daniel Lichauco, who led the design team.

"Lahat ng ginagawa namin has a nurse system na parang sa hospital
ibig sabihin you can turn on a light para alam ng mga nurses san pupunta," he said, noting that nurse stations are placed in an area separated by a decontamination system to ensure that health worker will also be protected from contracting the virus.

In Metro Manila, the Ninoy Aquino Stadium at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the Philippine International Convention Center, and the World Trade Center are being converted into "instant hospitals" to accommodate more coronavirus patients, Dizon said.

"Gusto po natin mapigilan ang pagdagsa ng mga ito sa mga ospital
para yung mga ospital po natin ay nakatutok sa mga kritikal at severe ang sakit at pangangailangan," Dizon said.

The New Clark City in Tarlac, which was used to as a quarantine area for repatriated seafarers, is also being disinfected so that more COVID-19 patients or possible carriers can occupy the facility.

The government is fast-tracking the creation of quarantine centers as officials expect a spike in the need of isolation rooms, as soon as the Philippines begins mass testing for the coronavirus in 2 weeks.

The disease has infected at least 2,633 patients in the Philippines, with 107 deaths.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Seaoil Philippines bags contract for SCTEX service area

MANILA, Philippines - The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has awarded the contract for one of two service areas along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) to Seaoil Philippines.

BCDA President and CEO Arnel Paciano D. Casanova said athe Seaoil service area will be the first service area to be built along the 94-kilometer toll road.

The service area will have a gasoline station, restrooms, sufficient and adequate parking slots, emergency First Aid station, potable water and lighting system, emergency vehicle repair shop and convenience stores.

Seaoil was the only bidder for the Concepcion Service Area located at the SCTEX Clark-bound/south-bound direction of the Clark-Tarlac segment.

The company bid P3 million for the annual lease, effective on the second year of lease and subject to an annual escalation of 5%. The lease term for the two-hectare lot is 25 years, renewable for another 25 years upon mutual agreement of the BCDA and Seaoil.

Seaoil will pay BCDA the fixed lease for the three years covering years 2 to 4 of the lease term, upon signing of the contract.

On the fifth year of lease, the amount will be the higher of either the fixed lease (as adjusted based on 5% escalation rate per annum), or share in the revenues of the Lessee from its operations and sub-lessees’ revenues, equivalent to 2.5% of net sales plus 0.15% share of net sales of petroleum products and lubricants.

Meanwhile, BCDA Asset Disposition Program (ADP) chairperson Atty. Nena D. Radoc said there was no bid submitted for the Macangcung Service Area.

The Macangcung Service Area is located at the Clark-bound/north-bound direction of the Clark-Tarlac segment.

The terms of reference for the service area is being revised. The contract will possibly be re-bid out in the first quarter of 2014.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com