THE National Project Management Office (NPMO) of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) is now taking steps in the repurposing of isolation and quarantine facilities funded by the Program all over the country. KALAHI-CIDSS Visayas Cluster MATA Focal Jezon Romano said the repurposing construction of the isolation and quarantine facilities must be considered in this new normal situation.
The repurposing of the quarantine facilities is one of the concerns raised by the NPMO team during their recent visit to Iloilo. Romano said the construction of the facilities was a by-product of community consultations and dialogues from the proponent barangays. “We want to ensure the transition is also a participatory process.”
Romano, along with the Regional Project Management Office team visited the quarantine facility at Barangay Amparo, Pavia to check the status of the project. He also had a meeting with Vice Mayor Edsel Gerochi and members of the Municipal Inter-Agency Committee regarding the repurposing of the quarantine facility before the community visit.
The local government unit presented its repurposing plan during the said meeting. The quarantine facility at Barangay Amparo is a joint project of 18 barangays in the town of Pavia. The town had included its repurposing plan before the approval of the health-related project of the government.
Local officials and health workers are one in saying the quarantine facilities had been beneficial to them at the height of the community transmission. The LGU hired health workers to take care of the infected persons. Food and internet connection were also provided.
The construction of isolation and quarantine facilities and the provision of medical kits and supplies was KALAHI-CIDSS’s response to mitigate the transmission of the highly contagious Covid-19 virus in 2020 under its Disaster Response Operation Modality (DROM). DROM implementation was prompted by Proclamation No. 922, declaring a State of Public Health Emergency and facilitating the mobilization of resources, and easing the processes to procure critical logistics and supplies.
KALAHI-CIDSS-funded isolation and quarantine facilities were built based on the design and specifications provided by the Department of Health to the local government unit. The community-based quarantine facilities have parking spaces, differently-abled friendly bathrooms, and well-ventilated rooms.
These projects were identified by the communities and approved by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.