By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The provincial government of Negros Occidental is currently seeking permission from the Department of Health (DOH) for the construction of three field hospitals to address the effect of COVID-19 in the province.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said they are proposing for a 1,000-bed capacity for the province.

The present quarantine facilities in Silay City with around 500 beds, Cadiz City with 200 beds and E.B. Magalona with 300 beds are being eyed for conversion to field hospitals.

Diaz pointed out the proposal will further augment the province’s COVID-19 designated hospitals such as the Valladolid District Hospital and the Cadiz District Hospital.

The Valeriano M. Gatuslao Hospital in Himamaylan City is now being converted to a COVID-19 center and once opened, it can accommodate 75 more beds.

As of yesterday, Negros Occidental’s active COVID-19 cases rose to 2,454 following the 179 new cases./DGB, WDJ