The first COVID isolation facility for PDLs, opens in Batangas

By Sentinel Times Staff May 23, 2020 The Batangas Provincial Isolation Facility and Specially-Designed Quarantine Facility for Persons ...

By Sentinel Times Staff
May 23, 2020



The Batangas Provincial Isolation Facility and Specially-Designed Quarantine Facility for Persons Deprived of Liberties (PDL) opened in Brgy. Malalim in this town on March 21st, 2020. (Photo & caption: Bhaby De Castro)



IBAAN, Batangas - The inauguration held as a signal of the opening and turn-over of the Batangas Provincial Isolation Facility and the Specially Designed Quarantine Facility for Persons Deprived of Freedom (PDL) in Brgy. Malainin in this town on March 21, 2020.

The blessing that held earlier at the facility was followed by a simple ceremony where Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas was represented by Dra. Rozvilinda Ozaeta handed a copy of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and inventory of equipment and service vehicles to the Department of Health (DOH) Calabarzon Regional Director Dr. Eduardo Janairo.

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According to Janairo, it is not easy to install or build an isolation facility because the local government faces many challenges in building it.

“Ang lalawigan ng Batangas ang pinakaunang lalawigan na nagpasimula upang maisakatuparan ang paglalagay ng isolation facility para sa Persons Deprived of Liberty na magpopositibo sa COVID-19. Maaari silang alisin sa kanilang kulungan at ilagay sa ganitong pasilidad upang mabigyan ng karampatang atensyong medikal at maiwasan ang pagkakahawaan. Maaari ding ilagay dito ang iba pang residente na magpositibo sa virus na nasa kabilang gusali upang mahiwalay sa mga PDL. Katuwang natin ang Philippine National Police sa pagmimintina ng pasilidad na ito," Janairo said.

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In the message of Police Regional Office IVA Director Gen. Vicente Danao said that 15 PNP of health personnel are in contact with the DOH for the management of inmates who are being detained at the isolation facility in the event of the virus.

“Ang atin pong mga kapulisan ay patuloy na katuwang ng ating pamahalaan sa paglaban sa virus na ito kaya’t ang ating hanay ay patuloy ang pagpapalakas upang matupad namin ang aming sinumpaang tungkulin," Danao said.

Currently the Isolation Facility for PDL’s has a capacity of 100 and its relocation to the DOH to provide additional funding and needs is expected to increase to 300 bed capacity. It is also planned to have a mini-hospital so there is no need to go out and go to Batangas Medical Center.

The Isolation Facility for PDL currently has 100 individuals and the turned over is to provide more funding and needs to increase to a 300 bed capacity. It is also planned to have a mini-hospital so there is no need to go to Batangas Medical Center.

Based on the MOA's statement between the Provincial Government of Batangas and DOH Calabarzon, the DOH will oversee the operation and management of facilities, employee appointments, working capital, and other facility requirements to combat the COVID pandemic.

The provincial government has allocated P50M for the conversion of the facility. Remember that this facility built by the provincial government to become the Provincial Rehabilitation and Detention Center and used as a temporary shelter by families who were affected by the Taal volcanic eruption in January 2020 before being an isolation facility.