Bureau of Quarantine Management and its Partners and Stakeholders during the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Construction of BOQ Holding Area Facility

 

On 20 March 2019, the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) led a groundbreaking ceremony to officially announce the construction of its Holding Area Facility in NAIA Road, Pasay City. The event was attended by Atty. Nicolas Lutero III, Director IV of the Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau (HFSRB) of the Department of Health (DOH) together with guests from the Bureau of Customs, Civil Aeronautics Board and Bureau of Immigration.

Father John Vianney Acosta officiates the holy blessing of the activity.

 

Dr. Ferdinand Salcedo, Director IV of the BOQ, said in his speech that as a State party of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR), the BOQ is mandated to implement the agreements contained in the IHR. Dr. Salcedo put emphasis on the core capacity requirements stated in the IHR, particularly in the provision of access to an appropriate medical service and diagnostic facilities to allow prompt assessment and care of ill travelers.

With the concerted effort of the BOQ and DOH Central Office, the approved construction was provided with funds in 2017 and 2018 by the Philippine government through the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of DOH. The construction is divided in two (2) phases that will yield a five-storey Holding Area Facility; a 164 bed capacity facility – the first of its kind in the Philippines.

BOQ Director Dr. Ferdinand Salcedo (middle left), DOH-HFSRB Director Atty. Nicolas Lutero III (middle right) and Engr. Christopher Lana (2^nd from the left) of the CB Garay Philwide Builders.

 

The project was awarded to CB Garay Philwide Builders and is expected to provide completion in 360 calendar days (for Phase 1) and 500 calendar days (for Phase 2).