'Extend all help possible to save lives' says Bong Go as he lauds government's initiative to build more "pop-up" or modular hospitals

Amid the urgent need to augment medical facilities in the country, particularly in Metro Manila, due to the high number of new COVID-19 cases reported every day, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go praised the government's continuing efforts to build more "pop-up" or modular hospitals to treat severe and critical COVID-19 patients.

"Kinokomendahan ko po ang inisyatibo ng gobyerno na paramihin pa ang mga medical facilities natin na nariyan upang tumugon sa mga pangangailangan ng ating COVID-19 patients," Go said.

"Dapat handa tayo parati. Ayaw nating makitang may pasyente na naghihingalo at hindi man lang matulungan ng gobyerno. Kaya naman napakahalaga ng ginagawang ito ng gobyerno. Gawin natin ang lahat ng ating makakaya para mailigtas ang buhay ng mga nagkakasakit," he added.

The Department of Public Works and Highways shared on Tuesday, April 20, that it is planning to construct temporary treatment and monitoring facilities and off-site hospitals throughout Metro Manila to cater to increasing number of COVID-19 infections.

Some major hospitals, such as the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, have already commenced the expansion of their capacity with the use of prefabricated components which allow faster construction.

A mega modular hospital has also been planned to be constructed at the National Center for Mental Health compound in Mandaluyong City.

The DPWH also proposed the construction of three-cluster units of off-site dormitories which will serve as temporary shelters for medical frontliners who service the NCMH.

Earlier, the department built modular facilities to accommodate more patients at the Lung Center. A temporary shelter was also constructed for frontliners taking care of COVID-19 patients.

On April 6, Go attended the blessing and turn-over ceremony of the Department of Health-Quezon Institute Off-Site Modular Hospital in Quezon City. Being the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go was invited to inspect the facility during the ceremony.

The modular facility is a 110-bed capacity off-site modular hospital extension of the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center located at the Quezon Institute.

"Dagdagan pa po natin ang mga ganitong pasilidad para maisalba ang buhay ng kapwa nating Pilipino. Huwag natin hayaan na may mamamatay dahil walang malapitang pasilidad na mag-aalaga at gagamot sa kanila," he appealed.

Meanwhile, Go also applauded medical frontliners all over the country for their untiring service and sacrifice, especially amid the ongoing pandemic.

"Mga frontliners, doctors, nurses, health workers, mula po sa amin ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte, maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong sakripisyo sa panahong ito," said Go.

"Kayo naman po ang nakakaalam sa labang ito. Kumbaga sa giyera, kayo po ang isinabak dito dahil alam n'yo po ang field na ito... Tulungan natin ang ating mga kababayan. 'Wag po natin silang pabayaan," he added.

The DPWH has so far completed 635 COVID-19-related health facilities nationwide, 139 of which were built in the National Capital Region.