INFOGRAPHIC: Find where your COVID-19 evacuation centers are in Luzon (Part 1)

As of 14 April 2020 at 12 PM PST, the Philippines recorded 284 new cases of the novel coronavirus, tallying to 4,932, while 3,082 are currently admitted in hospitals, and 242 have recovered or completed a 14-day quarantine at home. The death toll recorded 18 new deaths of confirmed cases, totaling at 315. “For Validation” cases count at 52, with 3 currently in hospitals, and 1 deceased.

The National Capital Region (NCR) reportedly has 3,510 confirmed cases or 71.17% of the total cases in the country. CALABARZON (Region 4-A) comes second with 747 confirmed cases, followed by Central Luzon (Region 3) with 257 confirmed cases. In Visayas, Central Visayas (Region 7) ties with Western Visayas (Region 6) with 43 confirmed cases, but with two deaths more and two less recoveries than the latter. Eastern Visayas (Region 8) has four confirmed cases, and one of them has recovered. Meanwhile, Davao Region (Region 11) recorded the most number of confirmed cases totaling at 92 or 66.19% of all cases in Mindanao. SOCCSKSARGEN (Region 12) recorded 16 cases, while Northern Mindanao has 12.

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The numbers are expected to continue to rise, but the number of beds in healthcare facilities in the country is barely sufficient. Additional facilities to accommodate COVID-19 patients, especially patients under investigation (PUIs) and patients under monitoring (PUMs), are urgently needed. To help decongest the hospitals, a team of architects, private individuals and companies, led by WTA Architecture and Design Studio, has been building 60 COVID-19 emergency quarantine facilities (EQFs) in Metro Manila, which would add 1,000 more beds for PUIs and PUMs. As of writing, they completed 13 EQFs since 12 April 2020.

Meanwhile, the national government has converted the Rizal Memorial Complex-Ninoy Aquino Stadium, the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Forum Halls, the World Trade Center, the ASEAN Convention Center in Clark, and the National Government Administrative Center in New Clark City, providing 1,500 more beds. Over 2,000 patients are expected to be accommodated in Philippine Arena, PhilSports Arena or ULTRA, and the Filinvest Tent in Alabang once converted into quarantine facilities. While all these are within Metro Manila and Central Luzon, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also prepared 125 regional evacuation centers (ECs) into COVID-19 evacuation centers throughout the Philippines. According to DPWH, 110 of the regional ECs are ready to accommodate an estimated number of 4,620 patients, while at least four ECs are utilized as food hubs by Department of Social Welfare and Development, and another 9 are used as emergency operations centers by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Here’s where to find them in Luzon:

National Capital Region (NCR)

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

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Ilocos Region (Region I)

Cagayan Valley (Region II)

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Central Luzon (Region III)

CALABARZON (Region IV-A)

MIMAROPA (Region IV-B)

Bicol Region (Region V)

These regional evacuation centers are realized through DPWH’s Evacuation Center Development Program, which aims to construct about 197 regional evacuation centers in 16 regions. A total of 7.14 billion pesos was appropriated for the years 2016 to 2019. For 2020, 3.24 billion pesos is allocated for the construction of evacuation centers in 15 regions (P216 million per region for 6 sites). Meanwhile, 500 million pesos is allotted for NCR. As of 28 February 2020, the DPWH has completed 122 evacuation centers, while 74 are under construction, and one is yet to start. As of March 2020, 125 has been completed, 110 of which have been equipped with both power and water, while 15 more are under facilitation according to DPWH Secretary Mark Villar in a previous press release.

The regional evacuation centers have been under joint inspection with the Department of Health (DOH) and DPWH, and are following the DOH epidemiologist’s guidelines on appropriate distancing of beds to be proper COVID-19 evacuation centers.

LOOK AT VISAYAS: INFOGRAPHIC: Where the DPWH COVID-19 evacuation centers are in your area (Part 2)

The data presented in these infographics are based on available information on the COVID-19 cases in the Philippines as of 8 April 2020. Sources include University of the Philippines’ endcov.ph, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Department of Health.