In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

BARMM inaugurates P21-M Covid-19 isolation facility

By Albashir Saiden

May 28, 2020, 8:00 pm

<p><strong>NEW ISOLATION FACILITY.</strong> Officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) launched on Thursday (May 28, 2020) the PHP21-million patient care center in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, as part of the region’s efforts to combat the onslaught of coronavirus disease 2019. BARMM chief minister Ahod 'Murad' Ebrahim (inset) led the ribbon-cutting and turnover ceremony of the 100-bed isolation facility built at the compound of the Cotabato Sanitarium Hospital. <em>(Photos courtesy of Dennis Arcon and BPI-BARMM)</em></p>

NEW ISOLATION FACILITY. Officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) launched on Thursday (May 28, 2020) the PHP21-million patient care center in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, as part of the region’s efforts to combat the onslaught of coronavirus disease 2019. BARMM chief minister Ahod 'Murad' Ebrahim (inset) led the ribbon-cutting and turnover ceremony of the 100-bed isolation facility built at the compound of the Cotabato Sanitarium Hospital. (Photos courtesy of Dennis Arcon and BPI-BARMM)

COTABATO CITY--Top officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) inaugurated Thursday a PHP21-million coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patient care center (PCC) in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

The 100-bed capacity isolation facility, which is the first of its kind in the region, was completed in just 40 days through the BARMM's Ministry of Public Works and turned over to the management of Cotabato Sanitarium Hospital (CSH).

The facility is expected to be fully operational within the next two weeks.

Ebrahim, who led the launching and ribbon-cutting ceremonies, said the project is among the Bangsamoro Inter-Agency Task Force's (BIATF) immediate response to manage and contain the spread of Covid-19 in the region.

"As a result of our resolve to combat this disease, here we are today, fulfilling another phase in this battle,” Murad said in his speech.

He said the BIATF made sure that basic services were delivered, preventive measures were in place, and most importantly sustainable efforts were made to properly take care of Covid-19 patients.

Ministry of Health–BARMM chief, Dr. Safrullah Dipatuan, said the constructed 1,000-square meter building has undergone consultations and met the minimum standards set by the World Health Organization for a Covid-19 isolation facility.

“This Covid-19 isolation center becomes very vital, without this, our task to contain this virus is too difficult if not completely impossible,” Dipatuan said.

MPW–BARMM head Eduard Guerra said the construction of the center has gone through challenges due to quarantine restrictions, but his agency managed to complete it on time.

"Normally when we say isolation facility, it's temporary, but we made it permanent, so the hospital can use it as an expansion (building) if the pandemic ends, Insha Allah (God willing),” Guerra said.

CSH chief, Dr. Ibrahim Pangato, described the center as a big help in containing the disease, and would benefit people of Maguindanao including from the nearby provinces.

"This facility, and to those soon to be built in other areas of BARMM, shows that the regional government really ‘walks the talk’,” Pangato said.

A similar Covid-19 facility is also being constructed in the coastal municipality of Datu Blah Sinsuat in Maguindanao. (PNA)

Comments