THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) turned over an emergency quarantine facility (EQF) for patients with the coronavirus disease 2019 or Covid-19 to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) on Saturday.MILITARY COVID-19 FACILITY The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), together with DEQA Design Collaborative, turns over on Saturday its emergency quarantine facility for Covid-19 patients to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Attachments areaCapt. Jonathan Zata, from the AFP public affairs office, said the Office of the Chief Engineer, the Naval Combat Engineering Brigade, Architects Denise de Castro, Andre Villarico, Rommell Corpuz and Engineer Felipe Agustin from DEQA Design Collaborative were present during the turnover over the 25-bed facility, one of over 60 temporary medically approved structures made of light materials that were conceptualized by WTA Architects.Over 22 emergency quarantine facilities have been completed while the construction of 26 others are ongoing, Zata said.Dr. Celia Carlos, RITM director, Assistant Director Beatrice Quiambao, and Chief Administration Officer Rodolfo Villarico were on hand for the turnover.Zata said the quarantine facility was designed to isolate and treat mild to asymptomatic patients.'The facilities are expected to help decongest hospitals and contribute to the national effort to control the pandemic,' Zata said in a statement.Each EQF costs P350,000 and WTA Architecture and Design Studio is open to donations to finish the construction of the remaining unfunded facilities.
