Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar on Tuesday recognized the contribution of private sector in government’s response against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) as he joined the opening of the Metro Manila’s biggest quarantine facility at Bagong Nayong Pilipino, Parañaque City.

Villar said the 525-bed Solaire-Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation Mega Quarantine Center funded by the Razon Group was inaugurated along with a newly-constructed access road completed by the DPWH.

The ceremonial opening of Solaire-Pagcor Quarantine Center and the access road was led by National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 chairperson Delfin Lorenzana, National Policy Against Covid deputy chief implementer and testing czar Vince Dizon, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, DPWH Undersecretary and Task Force to Facilitate Augmentation of Local and National Facilities Emil Sadain, and JV Emmanuel de Dios, chief executive officer of the Prime Metro BMD Corporation which is the Razon Group’s construction arm.

“We’d like to recognize the private sector in continuously assisting us in the government vs. Covid-19,” Villar said.

The newly-opened quarantine center will encourage mild to asymptomatic patients from Metro Manila and other nearby provinces to isolate outside their homes.

With Metro Manila still recording the highest daily number of Covid-19 cases, the DPWH Task Force upon Villar’s instructions continues to expand isolation capacity to address the dearth of facilities over the past months, Sadain said.

Sadain said DPWH is working on a total 603 isolation/quarantine facilities for Covid-19 patients/suspects nationwide with a total of 21,609 bed capacity, as well as 75 off-site dormitories for medical workers with 1,806-bed capacity.

The DPWH has also provided technical assistance to a total of 11 facilities implemented by the private sector and/or LGUs.

In a virtual Palace briefer, Roque also recognized the role being played by the private sector in combating the pandemic.

“Fortunately, maraming gaya ng Razon Group, nandiyan na rin po ang MVP Group, nandiyan na rin po iyong Ayala Group na tumutulong naman po sa gobyerno sa pagbibigay po ng mga pangangailangan natin sa Covid. (Fortunately, there are many like the Razon Group, MVP Group, and the Ayala Group helping the government with its needs against Covid),” he said. (PNA)