Red Cross medical tent to augment Subic hospital’s Covid-19 capacity

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has donated a fully air-conditioned medical tent to the Baypointe Hospital here to serve as an extension Covid-19 isolation and treatment unit for possible spillover cases of the highly infectious disease. 

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the medical tent was installed on Wednesday at the emergency admittance area of Baypointe, the only hospital in the Subic Freeport Zone that admits Covid cases from Olongapo City, Bataan and Zambales.

“We have here the hospital tent from the Philippine Red Cross that we hope can help Baypointe catch up with the growing numbers of Covid cases. This tent is fully air-conditioned, has 10 to 20-bed capacity, and will hopefully augment our needs as of this time,” Eisma said on Thursday.

“We are truly grateful that Senator (Richard) Gordon never misses on giving Subic his priority, as we fight a collective battle against this pandemic,” Eisma added. Gordon, who was the first SBMA chairman, is now chairman of the Philippine Red Cross.

Eisma said the medical tent is invaluable to Subic because of the rising number of Covid cases in the locality. “We have to be proactive. We have to be ready. We will not wait until we cannot catch up anymore,” she stressed.

“I will not want Subic to be ill-prepared for what may happen. So, this is one of the first steps that we are doing to make sure that we are ready should the pandemic escalate even more,” Eisma added.

According to Dr. Erlinda Alconga, Baypointe’s expert on infectious diseases, more patients are seeking admittance at the hospital because they have Covid pneumonia, with a total of 68 currently in the waiting list.

“Before our bed capacity for Covid cases was only 29, but now we attend to about 40 to 50 patients at Baypointe,” she added.

Baypointe director Dr. Felicisimo de Castro, meanwhile, said the medical tent is a very welcome gift from the Red Cross and Senator Richard Gordon, who is Red Cross chairman.

“We thank the community for giving support and we acknowledge with much appreciation the help that SBMA is providing us. This will go a long way in alleviating the desperate plight of our patients who wait outside just to be able to gain admission in our hospital, which is now full to capacity,” De Castro also said.

Both Alconga and Eisma also stressed their call for Subic stakeholders to observe minimum health protocols and to get vaccinated.

As of Thursday, August 19, the neighboring city of Olongapo has reported a total of 406 active Covid-19 cases and a total of 3,416 confirmed cases since the pandemic began early last year.

The neighboring province of Zambales, which has shifted back its quarantine status early this week to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions, has reported a total of 644 active cases, among the total confirmed cases of 5,156.

On the other hand, the province of Bataan, which is under Extreme Community Quarantine (ECQ), has reported a total of 2,519 active cases, out of the total 15,721 confirmed cases. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA eyeing Covid-19 mass-testing facility

After putting up two care and isolation facilities to help protect the local community from the new coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) now seeks to establish here a mass-testing facility that can carry out up to 2,000 tests a day.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the agency will implement the mass-testing project in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) “so that we can get a good grasp of the situation and act accordingly.”

“The testing will be open to the public, although the suspected and probable cases (previously known respectively as persons under monitoring, or PUMs, and persons under investigation, or PUIs) will be the priority,” Eisma said.

“We shall also coordinate with PhilHealth for the mechanics because they’re supposed to provide free coverage for indigent patients, but others would have to pay at cost,” she added.

Under the plan, the SBMA will put up at least two telephone booth-type swabbing centers at the Subic Bay Freeport main gate, where health workers will collect swab samples from patients.

“Once the samples are collected, these will be validated and sent to the Red Cross logistics and training center at the Naval Magazine area for testing,” Eisma said.

She added that the PRC testing facility is now being built to house testing equipment that include an automated RNA extraction machine that can run 90 samples per hour, as well as two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines that can complete up to a combined total of 2,000 tests a day.

Senator Richard Gordon, who is chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, said the PRC is using polymerase chain reaction-based test kits to ensure accuracy.

The SBMA sounded out this plan as public clamor for mass-testing resonated widely, with experts saying that it could further optimize the government’s quarantine strategy and prevent further loss of lives.

Locally, Eisma said that mass-testing would also help the government and the Freeport authority in particular, “to get a good reading of the prevalence of the outbreak with the end-view of safely lifting the ECQ in order to get the Subic businesses running again.”

“If we don’t undertake mass-testing, we’d be fighting Covid-19 blindly. We have to get a better grasp of the situation so that we can act accordingly,” Eisma added.

The SBMA has been initiating solutions to the growing health risks that the local community faced because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Before this, the Subic agency established two care and isolation facilities at the Subic Gym and the former Leciel Hotel using its own funds and some donations from private companies, civic organizations and concerned individuals.

These facilities will be used in the event that positive cases exceeded the capacity at the Baypointe Hospital in the Subic Freeport, which has admitted patients from Zambales, Olongapo City and Bataan.

As of April 18, Zambales has reported nine confirmed cases of Covid-19 with two recoveries, while Olongapo listed nine cases with one recovery, and Bataan province 80 cases with 15 recoveries. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

Two Covid-19 swabbing booths are being prepared for the mass-testing program of the SBMA. The booths have glass partitions to separate the health worker who will take swab samples from the patient who will stay outside the booth.

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Subic Freeport ‘surge’ facilities ready next week

Two care and isolation facilities being prepared by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for use in case of a surge in new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases will be ready here by next week.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said on Wednesday that the two facilities—the former Leciel Hotel and the Subic gymnasium here—will be properly equipped this weekend with equipment and supplies provided by corporate and individual donors.

“We now have two facilities ready in case of a surge in Covid-19 patients, and I thank the companies and individuals in Subic for their support of this SBMA initiative and their concern for the welfare of the community in general,” Eisma said.

“The SBMA provided the two locations and some basic equipment, and now various companies and stakeholder groups are pitching in with personal protection equipment (PPE), supplies, even food and transport services so that our frontliners can do their job,” she added.

Eisma on Wednesday received from PMFTC Inc. a total of 50 collapsible hospital beds, which are the latest of the major donations received by the SBMA. These will be installed at the converted Subic gym.

Eisma also said that the SBMA management is requesting the agency’s Board of Directors to approve the hiring of 34 medical personnel on a project contract basis, “so that we can fully utilize these two care and isolation facilities.”

The Subic gym, which now houses 32 isolation tents, as well as work and rest quarters for medical care personnel, was inspected also on Wednesday by medical personnel from Baypointe Hospital and Medical Center, where most local Covid-19 cases are admitted.

Dr. Erlinda Alconga, an expert in tropical and infectious diseases who runs the Coviod-19 unit at Baypointe, said the Leciel Hotel facility, which is just two blocks away from the hospital, would be an ideal place to house additional Covid-19 patients coming in from nearby areas.

“In case of a surge in the number of patients received at Baypointe, all positive patients will be moved to the Subic gym while the Leciel facility would be used to monitor cases of PUI (person under investigation),” she said.

Eisma also told Alconga and other Baypointe staff that the SBMA is now arranging living quarters for nurses and other medical staff at the Leciel facility, which will be ready for occupancy this Friday.

The SBMA chief also assured the Baypointe medical team that the SBMA would provide for all the needs of health workers who would be assigned to the two SBMA isolation facilities.

“SBMA will be here with you because the Subic Bay Freeport cannot turn its back and will not turn its back to its neighbors in Zambales and Olongapo and other areas. Laban nating lahat ito,” Eisma said.

Meanwhile, the SBMA acknowledged donors of materials for its care and isolation facilities. These include the International Recreation Corp. (IREC); National Bookstore; Tong Lung (Phils) Metal Industry; JC Salas Builders and Design Services Inc.; DML Subic Freeport Corp.; and Polarmarine, Inc.

The SBMA also thanked donors of supplies, equipment and services like: Apollo Subic Int’l Trading; Coldwater Creek and Marketing; Datian Subic Shoes; EPEE Corp.; Fashion Institute of Subic; GrainPro Philippines Inc.; HHIC-Phil Inc. (Mr. Nack Young Kim); Juken Sangyo; Lino Khan Trading; M Bernardino Culinary Institute; Oscar Santos; MSK Group of Companies; Nichol Bento; PacTec Subic Inc.; Philippines Easpal; and Royal Duty free Shops.

Other donors are: Sakura Restaurant; SBMA EWMPC; Seafood By The Bay; Skipper Pineda; Subic Auto Trucks & Machinery, Ltd.; Subic Bay Freeport Grains Terminal; Subic Bay Multi-purpose Cooperative; Subic Boardwalk Inc.; Subic Line Foods (Chowking Petron); Sweet Finale; Tele Empire Inc.; Tong Lung (Phils) Metal Industry; United Auctioneers Inc.; Upsilon Sigma Phi; Asian Dragon; Econest Waste Management Corp.; Ekxinum Inc.; Great Empire Gaming & amusement Corp.; International Freeport Exchange Trader Inc.-Subic; Northfolk Int’l Technology Inc.; and the Subic Korean community. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma (right) discusses facility requirements with infectious diseases expert Dr. Erlinda Alconga and other Baypointe Hospital medical staff during an inspection of the SBMA care and isolation facility at the Subic gym on Wednesday.

[2] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma (left) discusses facility requirements with Dr. Erlinda Alconga, tropical and infectious diseases expert, and other Baypointe medical staff during an inspection of the SBMA care and isolation facility at the Subic gym on Wednesday.

[3] Dr. Erlinda Alconga, tropical and infectious diseases expert at Baypointe Hospital in the Subic Bay Freeport (right), gestures as she discusses health protocols with SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma (second from left) during an inspection of the SBMA care and isolation facility at the Subic gym on Wednesday.

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SBMA takes over hotel for Covid-19 isolation

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) took over a six-storey hotel building here in the Subic Bay Freeport for use as additional care and isolation facility in the fight against the new coronavirus (Covid-19).

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma inspected the former Leciel Hotel here on Monday following its turnover on a temporary agreement with the Philippine Veterans Bank, which controls the property.

Eisma said the hotel has 81 rooms, mostly with their own toilet, bath and kitchen, which can be converted into care and isolation rooms. Utility companies here also restored power and water supplies to the hotel on Monday at the behest of the SBMA.

“We don’t want to be caught unprepared in case more patients of Covid-19 turn up. We must be ready for any eventuality because in a pandemic situation we should expect the normal health care system to be overwhelmed,” Eisma explained.

“We pray that eventually this won’t have to be used, but right now our duty is to find all means possible to be able to respond to this health emergency,” she added.

Aside from Leciel Hotel, the SBMA is converting the Subic Gym into a care and isolation facility for PUIs with mild to moderate symptoms. This will enable the Baypointe Hospital and Medical Center in the Subic Freeport to serve PUIs with severe symptoms, those with comorbidities or existing medical conditions, and COVID-19 positive patients, Eisma said.

Baypointe, which is just two blocks away from Leciel Hotel, has a limited room capacity, and has admitted several PUIs from various Zambales towns and the nearby Olongapo City.

“With increased capacity, we will be able to provide for the needs of the local Freeport population and, should the need arise, to accommodate as well referrals by the Department of Health (DOH) from other areas.” Eisma explained. She added that under government protocol, the DOH can assign and apportion PUIs among different hospitals in order to manage overall capacity.

The SBMA chief said that as early as last month, the Subic agency has been eyeing the former Hanjin condominium at Subic’s Naval Magazine area for conversion into an isolation facility, but said venue was scrapped because it was too far.

As care and isolation facilities, both Leciel Hotel and the Subic Gym will be under the supervision of experts from the DOH-Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) and Baypointe Hospital, Eisma said.

At the same time, the SBMA chief revealed that the Subic agency is exploring ways to outsource a complete diagnostics Covid-19 test system from South Korea. This will allow the SBMA to operate a remote dedicated center for Covid-19 tests in partnership with a DOH-accredited public laboratory or testing center.

“The overall plan for the SBFZ response is to strengthen local capacity to hunker down and withstand the worst, which is the possibility of a surge in local infections—while, at the same time, instituting tougher measures to suppress the virus and deprive its means of acquiring more targets,” Eisma said.

“It’s essentially a combination of defensive and offensive measures that presuppose a community that strictly observes quarantine and social distancing as the first line of defense, and then backed by a capable and reliable health care system,” she added.

Eisma also said that effective April 1, Subic Bay Freeport residents who shall exit the Freeport shall be required to surrender their SBMA ID and Quarantine Pass, thereby preventing their re-entry into the SBFZ. This is designed to prevent residents from freely moving in and out of the zone, which is a violation of the Luzon-wide quarantine declared by Malacañang, she added. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

SBMA Chairman Wilma T. Eisma inspects the six-story former Leciel Hotel in the Subic Bay Freeport, which will be converted temporarily into a care and isolation facility for Covid-19 patients.

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DOH-RESU train Subic health workers on Covid-19 response

Doctors and other medical personnel in the Subic Bay Freeport area received training from the Department of Health’s Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (DOH-RESU) on Tuesday to acquaint them with proper medical protocols when responding to potential Covid-19 patients.

The training held at the Subic gymnasium involved personnel from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s Public Health and Safety Department (SBMA-PHSD), Baypointe Hospital and Medical Center in the Subic Freeport, and James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital and ZMMG Coop Hospital in Olongapo City.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the training was a capacity-building exercise to boost the competence of local health workers, and establish cooperation procedures among local hospitals during the Covid-19 emergency.

The training focused on the proper procedures when taking swabs of specimen from potential Covid-19 patients, as well as on the correct donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the test procedure.

It also included a demonstration on the sanitary disposal of said PPE items like masks, gloves and goggles after use, as well as a discussion of the DOH-prepared algorithm for detecting and diagnosing categories of patients.

“This is very important because the medical personnel need to have the knowledge and skills on how to properly respond to Covid-related incidents and emergencies,” said Dr. Solomon R. Jacalne, head of the SBM- PHSD and commander of the SBMA’s Incident Management Team (IMT).

“The training we have attended is part of our preparations for the mobilization of our IMT,” he said.

Jacalne assured the public, however, that at the moment the Subic Bay Freeport Zone remains a zero-Covid-19 area, and urged the public to cooperate to keep the virus at bay.

“The main challenge we are now facing here is keeping the people inside their homes. Some, we observe, are not yet taking this (Covid-19 threat) seriously. That is why we don’t stop with our information campaign,” Jacalne said.

He said the strict implementation of home quarantine is vital, as well as the regulated entry and exit and curfew hours imposed by the SBMA. “These should be obeyed for the safety of us all,” he added.

Meanwhile, SBMA Deputy Administrator for Public health and Safety Ronnie Yambao pointed out that the DOH training on Covid testing had integrated both public and private hospitals in a unified approach to equip and prepare health workers and the local community for any Covid-19 case.

“We are preparing our medical workers as part of the strategic program of the SBMA because only DOH Covid Test Centers have the capability to generate and validate results like the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and San Lazaro Hospital,” he added. (MPD/SBMA)

PHOTOS:

Health workers from the Subic Bay Freeport and Olongapo City undergo training on Covid-19 testing at the SBMA gym on Tuesday

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Top corporate performers in Subic named

Twelve companies in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone received the 2018 Mabuhay Awards from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for being the top performers last year.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the SBMA keeps tab of the performance of Subic companies and recognizes the best performers through the SBMA Mabuhay Awards.

In the ceremony, Eisma urged locators to continue to enshrine transparency and compliance in their operation “because it is only with transparency and compliance that we can ensure a stable and predictable environment for the country, and for the Freeport.”

The Subic business locators that received the citation were:

- Toyota Subic, Inc., which received the “New Business of the Year” award for demonstrating remarkable results in customer service, marketing, and competitive positioning since its opening here on Nov. 8, 2018;

- HHIC-Phil Inc., was cited as “Top Importer of 2017” and “Top Exporter of 2017” for attaining the biggest import value of US$388 million and export value of US$1.25 billion;

- Subic Duty Free Shops, Inc., which runs and operates Meatplus Café, received the “Responsible Tourism Award” for creating positive business impact and significant economic, environmental and social benefits as one of the most popular food outlets inside SBFZ with a consistent strong following from local and international tourists;

- Philippine Coastal Storage & Pipeline Corporation (PCSPC), was “Top Net Income Earner of 2017”. PCSPC operates the petroleum storage and pipeline facilities at the former US military bases in Subic and Clark, and its 160-hectare facility here includes a marine terminal, fuel storage tank farms and tank truck loading facilities;

- Brighterday Subic Ltd., Inc. which manages and operates All Hands Beach, was given the “Eco-Innovation Award” for its efforts in biodiversity conservation, particularly in monitoring and releasing more than 4,000 sea turtles to their natural habitats since 2011;

- S-CORP Philippines, Inc., which offers end-to-end transaction processing services, intricately linked enterprise information management systems, and personalized multi-channel communications solutions for over 3,500 clients in distinct industry verticals across the globe, received the “SME Employment Award” for its non-discriminatory hiring system and generation of remarkable number of jobs for local and indigenous people;

- Allied Care Experts (ACE) Medical Center – Baypointe, Inc., which operates a tertiary medical tourism facility, received the “Health and Wellness Business of the Year” award, for its Biggest Loser Program that drew 181 participants, and for regular Zumba classes conducted at its auditorium and view deck;

- Converge ICT Solutions, Inc., was the “Service Business of the Year for Information and Communication Technology Industry” for offering the country’s only Pure End-to-End Fiber Network and its advocacy to upgrade the Filipino web experience;

- Subic Enerzone Corp., an Aboitiz Power Corporation, Inc. company, was “Service Business of the Year for General Business and Investment Industry” for its commitment to deliver, at most reasonable cost, safe and reliable electric service to the people and businesses they serve;

- International Container Terminal Services, Inc. was “Service Business of the Year for Logistics” for serving the growing economy of the northern regions of the Philippines through world-class container handling services at the Subic Bay Freeport;

- One Subic Power Generation Corp., a subsidiary of PHINMA Energy Corporation, meanwhile, received the “Corporate Social Responsibility Award” for its Cawag Reforestation Project whereby around 3,000 coffee seedlings were planted by mobilizing both upland farmers and employee volunteers; and

- Subic Superfood Inc., which produces the Mt. Mayon Premium Pili Nuts, received the “Special Recognition Award” for its exemplary dedication and passion in turning its locally-sourced main raw material into a quality product that has brought pride and honor to the Subic Bay Freeport and the Philippines for being recognized in various prestigious and international awards. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

SBMA chief Wilma T. Eisma (center) and other SBMA officials congratulate winners of the 2018 Mabuhay Awards, which recognized top business performers in the Subic Bay Freeport (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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MSC’s USNS Charles Drew hosts ship tour to Subic Bay's medical professionals

Eleven Filipino nationals toured the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10) during a community relations event in Subic Bay, March 3.

The Filipino nationals were staff members comprised of nurses and medical technicians from the Unihealth- Baypointe Hospital and Medical Center located here.

The event was sponsored by Military Sealift Command (MSC) and the guests were those who provide care to civilian mariners in the form of physicals, Medical Surveillance Program renewals (MSPs) and other urgent and routine medical needs.

The Baypointe staff were treated to a hardy dinner onboard and given a tour of the ship which included the bridge, the SA330-J Puma helicopter cargo handling areas, and the ship's medical department.

"Thank you very much for a wonderful experience touring the ship," said Marjurie Hernandez, from the marketing department at Baypointe Hospital. The staff stated they had a memorable time and for some of them this was their first time seeing a U.S. Navy ship up close.

MSC currently contracts with Baypointe Hospital and other local medical facilities in the Subic Bay area for the completion of required MSC medical exams. The USNS Charles Drew is currently assigned to the 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (dvidshub.net)

PHOTO:
Filipino nationals pose for a photo in the dining facility during a tour of the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10), March 3. (Photo courtesy of Marjurie Hernandez)

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/191502/mscs-usns-charles-drew-hosts-ship-tour-medical-professionals#.Vt7fEZx97WJ

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Worker dies in Subic shipyard accident

SUBIC, Zambales , Philippines– A worker died from burns in the latest accident that occurred at the Hanjin shipyard here, hospital sources said yesterday.

Randy Gacos, 29, a welder of Finback Corp., a subcontractor of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines Inc., suffered severe burns while working Wednesday. He was rushed to the Unihealth-Baypointe Hospital and Medical Center at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone but doctors failed to save him.

Sources said Gacos’ welding hose caught fire and the flames spread over his body.

Data showed Gacos is the 37th worker to have died while working at the shipyard.

Meanwhile, a labor group challenged President Aquino to uphold and protect the rights of the workers at the Hanjin shipyard.

Partidong Manggagawa chairman Renato Magtubo said the death of Gacos would serve as a test for Aquino who once thanked Hanjin for its P24-billion investment in the country.

“The Hanjin shipyard is a graveyard of workers. While capitalists are scrimping on protection for its work force and the government is sleeping on its job of enforcement, workers are dying in the workplace,” Magtubo said.

The group estimated that there are at least 21,000 workers at the shipyard but only a few hundreds are employed directly while the rest were hired through the subcontractors. (Bebot Sison, Sheila Crisostomo, The Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2014/05/04/1319113/worker-dies-subic-shipyard-accident

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