Regional evacuation centers prepared as healthcare facilities for PUIs in Region 1

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Mar. 28 (PIA) - - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has prepared the regional evacuation centers as isolation healthcare facilities for the Patients Under Investigation (PUIs) of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Region 1.

 

According to Engineer Oamar, the focal person of DPWH Region 1 to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Region 1 (RDRRMC1), the evacuation centers will serve as standby facilities once the number of severe cases of PUIs in the region will not be accommodated by the existing facilities of the DOH Region 1 and the local government units (LGUs).

Photo shows an isolation room of an evacuation center prepared as healthcare facility being occupied now by a Patients Under Investigation (PUI) in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. (Courtesy photo from DPWH Region 1)  

 

Oamar said the Ilocos region has 13 evacuation centers located in the towns of Banna, Batac City and Paoay, all in Ilocos Norte; Vigan City in Ilocos Sur; Agoo, Bacnotan and San Fernando City, all in La Union; and Alaminos City, Calasiao, Dasol, Manaoag, San Nicolas and Urbiztondo, all in Pangasinan.

 

The evacuation center in Alaminos City is already occupied by the PUIs.

 

Before the PUI will be brought to the evacuation center-turned healthcare facilities, Oamar said that a technical team from the DOH Region 1 will assess it to further ensure the safety and security of the patients.

 

Earlier, the clamor of using the regional evacuation centers as the alternative healthcare facilities for COVID 19 patients was approved during the first joint meeting of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Region 1 (RDRRMC1) and the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) on March 19.

 

“After our meeting, we immediately coordinated with the technical team from the DOH Region 1 for the validation of the 13 regional evacuation centers before its conversion into healthcare facilities,” she said. (JCR/FGL/JTQ, PIA 1)

source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1037289