President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated that the government has the power to take over hotels and motels to use as facilities for COVID-19 patients.
This is after Health Sec. Francisco Duque said that they have already instructed the hospitals to reserve hotel rooms that can be immediately accommodated by doctors and nurses who test positive for COVID-19.
“Government can expropriate ‘yong mga hotels, motels, whatever kung kulang ang — ang mga halfway houses natin ‘yong naghihintay. So we kind of have the power. The government has the power to just expropriate. Puntahan na lang at sabihin gagamitin,” Duterte said Monday in a public briefing.
Vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. said that with Duterte’s order to PhilHealth to pay the valid claims of the hospitals, the health care capacity of the hospitals will be increased.
“Iyong pagbayad po ng PhilHealth ng more or less P9.577 billion for NCR, Region IV, at saka Region III, ay nangako po sila na mage-expand po sila ng kanilang mga ICU beds. At nangako po sila na mage-expand sila ng 164 po na ICU beds at mago-open po sila ng mga additional wards and beds na humigit-kumulang po na 1,157 beds for moderate and severe case,” said Galvez.
Gov’t can take over hotels if patient facilities are lacking: Duterte
He estimated that the country should have 2,000 ICU beds for severe and critical cases, but now it is only 1,395.
He said the LGUs are helping to add more beds in hospitals.
“At ito po ay nangako rin po sila na ‘yong mga city ng Quezon City, Taguig, Caloocan, Manila, Pasay, Valenzuela, San Juan, Navotas, Parañaque at Makati . . . Na magkakaroon po sila ng additional 30 ICU beds para sa ating mga critical patients. And also additional 1,350 regular COVID beds for moderate, mild and asymptomatic,” Galvez said.
Duterte, on the other hand, ordered government agencies not to save money if the allocation of funds is for the COVID-19 response.
He said he is ready to support whatever the government does as long as it goes through the proper process legally.
“Hindi ito panahon sa tipid. Ilarga mo lahat ‘yan kailangan ng tao. Maski hindi pa kailangan ilagay mo lang diyan tutal aabot rin ‘yan,” said Duterte.