The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officially turnover to the Quezon City government four (4) cluster dormitories with 64 rooms intended for 128 hospital workers.
The “fully furnished” dormitories constructed at Quezon City Memorial Circle were received by Quezon City Administrator Michael Victor Alimurung from DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, head of DPWH Task Force for Augmentation of Health Facilities formed by Secretary Mark A. Villar.
The ceremonial turnover was also attended by members of DPWH Task Force namely Bureau of Design Director Aristarco Doroy, Bureau of Construction Director Eric Ayapana and Assistant Director Edgardo Garces; Mr. Al Tengco of Nationstar Development Corporation; Mr. Aldwin Almeira of Almeira International Construction Corporation; and head of offices from Quezon City government namely OIC Building Official Atty. Dale P. Perral, Health Department Head Dra. Esperanza Anita N. Escaño-Arias, General Services Department OIC Fe Bernabe Bass, and Quezon Memorial Circle Administrator Engr. Zaldy Dela Rosa.
Administrator Alimurung extended Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte’s message of gratitude to DPWH Secretary Villar and Undersecretary Sadain for the commitment and dedication to build the off-site dormitories for healthcare workers.
Undersecretary Sadain said that the dormitories will enable medical doctors and staff to find a sense of comfort in space designed to help them get needed rest.
Each cluster dormitory has 16 air conditioned rooms, which can accomodate two persons. Each room is equipped with double-decker beds with toilet and bath with heater.
The dormitory is made of modular components fabricated to assemble 16 rooms, eight on left, and eight on the right side, with the middle space intended for the living room, complete with TV and sofa.
Common dining and a separate area for laundry and kitchen with available appliances were also set up within the dormitories.
“The new facilities will be conducive for temporary staying place of doctors, nurses and other hospital workers who won’t have to go home after their duty to prevent the possible transmission of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to their families”, added Undersecretary Sadain.
Medical personnel from the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Heart Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Veterans Memorial Hospital, Children’s Hospital, V. Luna General Hospital, Quezon City General Hospital, and other government hospitals in Quezon City will benefit from the project.
Construction works for two (2) more off-site dormitories that can accommodate 64 people are on-going at the Quezon Memorial Circle, two (2) units for people inside the Lung Center of the Philippines; and one (1) unit for 32 people inside the compound of Jose Lingad Memorial Hospital in Pampanga.