Eva Macapagal Super Terminal Quarantine Facility in Manila South Harbor converted into an isolation facility amid the surge of COVID-19 cases

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Eva Macapagal Super Terminal Quarantine Facility in Manila South Harbor, which was converted into an isolation facility amid the surge of COVID-19 cases in the country, formally opened yesterday, 26 April 2021.

The conversion of the quarantine facility, which is being managed and operated by the DOTr Maritime sector since 2020, was made possible through the initiatives of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

To recall, the PPA and PCG initiated the retrofitting of the Eva Macapagal Super Terminal due to the continuous rise of COVID-19 cases in the country, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR). Initially, the facility was set up to merely accommodate repatriated seafarers and OFWs who are required to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine. With the conversion and retrofitting, asymptomatic patients and patients with mild symptoms can now be accommodated and treated in the facility.

According to Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago, patients who are asymptomatic and with mild symptoms will be attended to in an isolated quadrant identified as Section A. This section has a 55-bed capacity. Section A can also serve as a step-down care facility for recovering patients. GM Santiago also has assured that the agency is ready to expand bed capacity should the need arises.

"Makakaasa po kayo na kung kakailanganing magdagdag ng pasilidad po para ma-expand 'yung 55-bed capacity na 'to, handa po ang Philippine Ports Authority at ang Philippine Coast Guard, sa ilalim po ng Department of Transportation, na tayo po ay makipag-kapit-bisig sa Department of Health at iba pa pong ahensya para matugunan po ang pangangailangang ito."

At present, the Eva Macapagal Super Terminal Quarantine Facility has a 211-bed capacity divided into four (4) sections for patients, health staffers, and other essential workers. Aside from Section A, Section B will house the health staff and other essential workers, while Sections C and D will continuously cater to personnel of the PCG and PPA who contracted the virus but are asymptomatic or showing mild symptoms.

"Kung matatandaaan po natin, noong Agosto po ng 2020 o last year, sa direktiba po ni Secretary Arthur Tugade at sa tulong pong pampinansyal ng Lopez Group of Companies, kinonvert po natin ang Eva Macapagal Super Terminal para maging quarantine facility po ng ating mga seafarers, 'yung mga dumadating pong tripulante po na mga Pilipino na pauwi po sa kanilang tour of service from the cruise ships at iba pang cargo vessels," GM Santiago said.

Meanwhile, DOTr Undersecretary for Administrative Affairs Artemio Tuazon Jr., who represented DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade in the walk-through event, stressed the DOTr’s commitment in helping the national government, particularly the health sector, in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Itong conversion po at paggamit ng Eva Macapagal Super Terminal bilang isolation facility ay nagpapakita po ng pagtutulungan ng ating buong gobyerno. Ang DOTr, sa pamumuno po ni Secretary Tugade, ay sumusuporta po at patuloy na susuporta sa lahat 'ho ng inisiyatibo ng IATF at ng DOH, upang mapuksa itong COVID-19," Usec. Tuazon asserted

(DOTr-OTS intercepts 1,880 prohibited items at various airports nationwide

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Department of Transportation’s Office for Transportation Security (DOTr-OTS) intercepted a total of 1,880 prohibited items at various airports nationwide for the entire month of March.

Forty-nine (49) of the intercepted items were suspected live bullets, while 81 were “non-live” bullets kept as amulets, or shell casings taken as souvenirs from firing ranges.

Since 2016, under the strict instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte and DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, bullets kept as amulets or souvenirs by passengers are simply confiscated and recorded. The passenger is then allowed to continue with the flight without any undue delay.

Meanwhile, 1,750 items of the total number seized included lighters, liquid items in containers of more than 100 mL, air guns, knives, scissors, workers’ tools, cutters, and other similar sharp and pointed objects.

Pagadian Airport reported the highest number of intercepted security restricted items with 31 incidents and 644 items, followed by Tacloban Airport with 24 incidents and 399 assorted security restricted items intercepted.

OTS Administrator Undersecretary Raul L. Del Rosario lauded the vigilance of OTS airport Security Screening Officers (SSOs) who act as the first line of defense at the airport.

“Pansin natin na pataas nang pataas 'yung vigilance ng ating airport SSOs despite the pandemic na kakaunti 'yung volume ng mga bumibyahe. Nakita rin natin na malaki ang naging tulong dito nung mga karagdagang advanced x-ray machines at other security screening equipment na nabili natin noong mga nakaraang buwan. 'Yung bawat sentimo ng budget na binibigay sa amin, sisiguraduhin namin na mapapakinabangan nang malaki ng mga Pilipino,” Usec. del Rosario said.

“Magmula noong pandemic, siniguro rin natin 'yung health and safety ng mga pasahero at pati na 'yung aming mga empleyado. Kaya in line doon sa ICAO standards and recommended practices, nag-issue kami noon ng policy on Modified Security Screening, kung saan effectively, na-minimize natin yung physical contact ng mga tao through the use of advanced security screening technologies gaya ng full body scanner at hand held metal detectors,” he added.

Viet Mart Supplier Inc. Opens New Branch of VMART “Taste of Asia” in Sherwood Place, Taft Avenue Manila.

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Viet Mart Supplier Inc. (Vmart.ph), an international-based growing start-up grocery business in the Philippines, establishes its second physical store in Sherwood Place in Taft Avenue, Manila in its initial expanding efforts.

When Jenny To, CEO of Vmart.ph, established the first store, currently located at 174 Yakal Street Makati City, its primary goal was to serve and bring Vietnamese products to its ex-pats living in Makati. Then, after a short period of business in the country, they have decided to integrate their business into the local scene.

“Our products originally and majorly are Vietnam products. We’re currently looking into the Vietnam market in the Philippines then start to expand to the local market here. We want to stretch to the local market now and try switching from Vietnam-centered market to the local,” said To.

Vmart.ph primarily has Vietnamese goods, but it also includes Korean, Thai, Chinese, and some Filipino products.

 Vmart.ph products vary from consumable goods to health and beauty products, mobile phone accessories, international fruits and vegetables, medical supplies, pet care products, meat and poultry, and various beverages.

 Vmart.ph also has a joint business with VMart which is Annam.ph, a Vietnamese mainstay restaurant, located beside the Makati branch.

“We want to bring the Vietnam products here in the Philippines, but we also brought with us Thai, Chinese, and Korean products to our store,” said To.

“When we first opened here, our first goal was to cater to Vietnamese ex-pats living in the Philippines,” explained To.

Vmart.ph’s second store was strategically established in Sherwood Place in Taft Manila to cater, not only to ex-pats living near Taft Avenue but also to target De La Salle University-Manila students, who they think has the greater interest in trying international products because of their “traveling tendencies.”

“When we opened in our second branch in Sherwood Place in Taft Manila, we wanted not to focus only on Vietnam ex-pats living around Taft but we are also targeting students from De La Salle University. We think that most of these students are there well-traveled,” said To.

“We know most of the students from LaSalle go on and about to different countries to we figured that they are the specific market that would appreciate and try out the products,” said To.

For 2021, Vmart plans to establish a total of three stores in the country’s capital region, also strategically choosing from either Quezon City, Clark Pampanga, Pasay, or Cavite.

“We are planning to put a maximum of three stores. Maybe one or two more for this year. We are looking into either Clark in Pampanga or Cavite. We are also searching either in Quezon City, Cavite, Pasay, or Pampanga but were still looking for the best spots to put up the stores,” said To.

VMart “Taste of Asia” is open 24 hours, seven days a week and delivers from 7:00 AM to 4:00 AM.

For additional information, please visit www.vmart.ph.