The government may take over private buildings and convert them into hospitals if the new coronavirus infects more people in the country, President Duterte declared Monday night.
The President said the government could install medical equipment in the confiscated property to provide care to patients “in times of emergency.”
“Kung ang contagion actually it’s epidemic, if it is just regional or local or national. It is pandemic if it is worldwide. Or I can… Well, I will expropriate. Kunin ko ‘yung building mo whether you like it or not,” Duterte said during a press conference after a meeting with top government officials on the coronavirus threat in Malacañang.
“In times of emergency, I can… I can always… It is confiscatory in nature. Kung ‘yung – you confiscate. Then you make it a hospital. Bring in the equipment and you stay there inside the building where the egress and ingress is controlled,” he added.
But for now, the President ordered the health department to prepare a separate ward in government hospitals to accommodate people who may be placed under quarantine.
The country has recorded two cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease, including one death of a patient. Eighty patients have reportedly been placed under investigation for suspected respiratory disease.
“If it comes to the fore requiring the quarantine of persons, either local or foreigners, I have directed (Health) Secretary (Francisco) Duque (III) here to prepare a space, a ward in our hospitals or a separate room – building room – where we can house them,” Duterte said.
“Hindi pa kailangan ‘yan pero I said we will prepare,” he said.
He noted that the establishment of hospital wards was the strategy employed by the government during the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) a few years ago.
“Remember may SARS. Every regional office in the country was ordered to provide a space. And there was a vehicle provided by the government which was — well, washed over with disinfectant para to minimize contamination,” he said.
Duterte also said the massive drug rehabilitation facility inside a military camp in Nueva Ecija could also be possible quarantine area amid the coronavirus threat. He said such facility, donated by a Chinese philanthropist, has not been used yet.
“That building I think the first building is vacant, not used. Problem is I think si governor ayaw niya. Nandiyan sa Fort Magsaysay. That building is inside a national government reservation. Maluwang ‘yan,” he said.
The health department earlier said it was looking at two military areas as possible quarantine sites for Filipinos returning from Wuhan, China, where the virus broke out. Authorities are expected to visit the naval station on Caballo Island as well as drug rehabilitation center in Fort Magsaysay. (Genalyn Kabiling)
