AFP turns over two emergency quarantine facilities to Manila

May 21, 2020

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) turned over two more emergency quarantine facilities (EQFs) in Manila on Thursday.

Capt. Jonathan Zata, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs chie.f said the military through its various engineering units completed building six more EQFs within and outside Metro Manila since April 28.

"Two of the facilities with 44-bed capacity were turned over to the Tondo National High School (TNHS), Manila on Thursday, May 21," he said.

Zata said the ceremony was attended by AFP Chief of Staff, General Felimon Santos along with Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and  William Ti Jr. of the WTA Architecture + Designs Studio, who leads the EQF project.

"Also present were Dr. Patrick Gitonga of the Samaritan’s Purse who partnered with WTA for the EQF project and principal Sonny Valenzuela of TNHS," he said.

Santos said "it is the AFP’s great hope that these newly- constructed emergency quarantine facilities here in Tondo shall serve its purpose of aiding hospitals to accommodate the increasing number of suspected and probable COVID-19 cases."

“The men and women of the AFP shall remain devoted as they abide by their sworn pledge to protect our people, especially those from the most vulnerable sectors of our society. With the aid of the ingenious creations of professionals from the private sector, your soldiers will continue to fulfill their duty to the state and the citizens amidst this war against an unseen enemy,” he added.

Zata said the facilities were built through the efforts of the Office of The Chief Engineer, AFP, bannered by Major General William Ilagan through the 51st Engineering Brigade, led by Brigadier General Emmanuel Anthony Ramos.

"Other completed EQFs were in Batangas Healthcare Specialist; The Medical City, Batangas; Perpetual Help Las Piñas; and Caloocan City North Medical Center. Each EQF was built by 20 soldiers within five to six days using power tools and around four truckloads of materials," he said.

"Meanwhile the sites for completion are in Novaliches District Hospital, Quezon City; Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital, Quezon City; two in Brgy. Sucat, Parañaque; and two in Taguig-Pateros Distrcit Hospital," he added.

Zata said in partnership with various organizations the AFP has previously completed 78 EQFs.

"Under the WTA project, 10 were built by all-soldier construction teams while 52 were constructed by composite military and civilian teams," he said.

"Moreover, 10 were completed under the San Miguel Foundation projects; one was made possible in partnership with a generous group from Davao; two were built in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City; and three were constructed under the AFP Health Service Command initiative," he added. Robina Asido/DMS