“WE HEAL AS ONE” CENTER AT ULTRA FINISHED IN 3 DAYS

A 132-bed “We Heal as One” center was put up in three (3) days by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Pasig City as additional health facility to isolate and treat COVID-19 patients.

Secretary Mark A. Villar said that the DPWH expeditiously worked  at the empty Philippine Sports Arena or popularly known as ULTRA and repurposed into isolation and treatment facility by setting up cubicles as makeshift hospital rooms.

“Built in super quick time from April 15 to 17, I am truly proud of the demonstrated teamwork and responsiveness of DPWH”, said Secretary Villar.

Construction at ULTRA formally started 8AM of April 15 and originally intended to be finished on April 19, 2020.

The DPWH Taskforce to Facilitate Augmentation of Local and National Health Facilities formed by Secretary Villar helped and coordinated the repurposing of ULTRA with speed up construction process by dividing the area into three (3) clusters for simultaneous  activities.  DPWH worked round-the-clock to fasttrack its completion.

Carpenters, electricians, laborers and other workers from NCR District Engineering Offices were divided into three (3) groups with each group assigned to fabricate and install 44 cubicles per cluster area: Group 1 – North Manila DEO, Malabon-Navotas DEO and Metro Manila 3 DEO; Group 2 – Quezon City 1 DEO, Quezon City 2 DEO and Metro Manila 1 DEO; and Group 3 – Las Pinas – Muntinlupa DEO, South Manila DEO and Metro Manila 2 DEO.

Two (2) nurse stations were also completed in record time.

The “We Heal As One” Center at ULTRA, Pasig City is part of the government’s effort to repurpose any available government or private  structures into health facilities, Secretary Villar added.