Cebu City to provide additional budget for NOAH Complex

CEBU CITY, Philippines —Cebu City will be providing an additional budget for the New Oasis for Adaptation and a Home (NOAH) Complex, the biggest isolation center in the city for asymptomatic Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

This after series of posts online revealed the state of the isolation facility, which patients claim is not conducive for those trying to recover from the virus.

Mayor Edgardo Labella said he has asked for a budget proposal for the isolation facility from Councilor Donaldo Hontiveros, who oversees NOAH’s operations, for the needed funds to operate the facility “properly.”

“We will address this problem soon,” said the mayor.

Since patients have also been complaining of lost items allegedly being take by persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) also isolated in the facility, Labella said he wants PDLs separated from other patients.

He instructed Councilor Hontiveros to facilitate the separation of the PDLs from the ordinary patients.

Although he said there should be no discrimination in treatment of patients, the city government said it is important that the patients feel safe in the facility.

Cebu City South District Representative Rodrigo Abellanosa has suggested that the city government partner with hotels and pension houses to provide better isolation services.

“Kung aduna man gani budget gikan sa PHILHEALTH, DOH ug LGU alang sa matag Covid-positive nga isulod sa isolation center apan dili mahatagan ug tukma nga pasilidad ug serbisyo, mas maayo ba kaha nga ang Cebu City Hall/Mayor makig areglo pinaagi sa MOA sa mga gagmay nga hotels ug pension houses? Makahapoy kini sa kabalaka sa mga Covid-positive ug ilang pamilya. Makatabang usab kini sa pagbangon sa mga negosyo ug ekonomiya sa atong Syudad,” said the congressman in a Facebook post.

(If there’s a budget from Philhealth, DOH or the LGU for every Covid-positive patient who will be admitted to an isolation center but the patient can’t receive good service there, wouldn’t it be better if the Cebu City Hall/Mayor would arrange a deal with hotels and pension houses through a MOA? This will ease the worries of Covid-positive patients and their families. This would also help businesses and the economy in the city recover.)

Abellanosa is referring to the Philhealth’s coverage per patient for those admitted at the NOAH Complex and the CCQC, rendering the facilities free for residents.

Labella, for his part, said they have  partnered with at least eleven hotels and pension houses that have allowed isolation in their establishments, and more accommodation establishments plan to help the city as well.

However, these facilities are not for free and patients will have to pay for their stay there during the isolation period. It is not clear why these accredited isolation facilities are not covered in the Philhealth package.

/bmjo