The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Tuesday that it has recently completed and handed over a new P12.5-million isolation and quarantine facility to the city government of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, completed a 425-meter flood-control project in Macrohon, Southern Leyte and had finished the construction of two multipurpose buildings to serve indigenous people (IP) in the province of Bukidnon.
Public Works Secretary and Chief Isolation Czar Mark A. Villar said that the newly constructed health-care facility in Negros Occidental was built on a 348-square-meter lot in Kabankalan City Hospital located in Barangay Tabugon through the implementation of DPWH Negros Occidental 3rd District Engineering Office, backed by the DPWH Regional Office 6’s (DPWH-RO 6) fiscal year 2020 Special Purpose Fund.
The facility is composed of a 16-room (container van) building, furnished with individual air- conditioning units and comfort rooms for patients; a provision of separate quarters for male and female nurses with two double-deck beds, nurse’s station, utility room, generator/power transformer and water tanks.
“This quarantine facility will serve as temporary shelter for the treatment of Covid-19 related cases, as well as provide shelter for locally stranded individuals in Kabankalan City, who are returning to the city and nearby places, who need to undergo the mandatory quarantine protocol,” said DPWH-RO 6 Director Lea N. Delfinado representing Secretary Villar in a turnover ceremony held recently.
Villar also announced that the DPWH Southern Leyte District Engineering Office has completed a 425-meter flood-control project to mitigate overflowing along Amparo River, directly benefiting Barangays Amparo and Mabini.
“With the completion of this project, the two barangays of Amparo and Mabini are now less vulnerable to flooding. These barangays have suffered extreme flooding during strong typhoons Ruping in 1990 and Basyang in 2010,” said Villar.
In Bukidnon, the DPWH chief also reported the completion of two multipurpose buildings that now serve the needs of IPs.
In a report to Villar, DPWH Region 10 Director Zenaida Tan said that the buildings located in the Municipalities of Impasug-ong and Kitaotao can now be used as venue for learning, meetings and activities, as well as temporary shelter for transients.
The building structures are built with an open hall for gatherings, restrooms, lodging area with rooms and a balcony. It was also complete with plumbing and electrical works for overall functionality.
“Most of the indigenous people live in the highlands of Bukidnon so whenever they visit the town proper, the buildings are available to provide temporary place which are comfortable to stay,” said Villar.
“These structures serve as a concrete expression of the department’s support to preserve the culture and heritage of the indigenous people in Bukidnon,” he added.