Rizal Park mobile hospital, vax site completed in 2 months: DOT

MANILA – The mobile field hospital and drive-thru vaccination site being built at Rizal Park’s Burnham Green would be completed within two months, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced Wednesday.

“Both the mobile field hospital and drive-thru vaccination site will be open to all, regardless of whether you are a resident and non-resident of Manila. These two endeavors will contribute significantly to scaling up the nation’s Covid-19 response in light of the current surge in cases and the anticipated arrival of more vaccines,” DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

The City of Manila would spend for the construction, development, and operation of the temporary facilities.

The DOT, through the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), and the City of Manila formally signed on Wednesday the memorandum of agreement on the construction of the facilities.

Signing during the virtual ceremony were-Puyat, NPDC Executive Director Cecille Lorenzana-Romero, and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.

During the virtual ceremony, Puyat welcomed the repurposing of the site to support the government’s efforts to protect the public’s health and safety during the pandemic.

“We welcome the repurposing of more tourism sites into medical facilities that will help us get through this public health crisis. I hope that this collaboration between different national agencies and the Manila LGU will inspire other LGUs around the country to work with the national government in developing innovative solutions that will bring about a swift end of this pandemic and allow us to embark on the road to recovery,” she said.

The Manila Mega Field Hospital will be constructed at the 16,327 square meter area of Burnham Green located at the western section of Rizal Park. With 336 beds, it will augment the bed capacity of hospitals for moderate and severe cases of Covid-19.

The drive-thru vaccination site will rise at the Independence Road, commonly known as the Parade Grounds of the Quirino Grandstand, also under the management of the NPDC, a move seen to boost Manila’s immunization program by vaccinating up to 450 people a day.