ILOILO City – Western Visayas has strengthened its defense against future infectious disease outbreaks with the opening of a new 25-bed state-of-the-art isolation facility in Pototan, Iloilo, a major investment of the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) aimed at improving the region’s emergency health response and pandemic preparedness.
The facility, inaugurated on July 31 at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Barangay Rumbang, features five intensive care unit (ICU) beds and 20 specialized isolation beds for high-risk patients requiring advanced medical care.
The project was funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through its Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit (HEAL) COVID-19 Project, implemented in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH).
Health Undersecretary Dr. Mary Ann Palermo-Maestral said the new facility underscores the government’s long-term commitment to building a resilient healthcare system capable of responding to future public health emergencies.
“This facility represents a commitment not only to our immediate response to health crises but also to the long-term health of our communities,” she stated.
ADB Country Director Andrew Jeffries also lauded the collaboration among the national government, development partners and local stakeholders that made the project possible.
The isolation center forms part of the national government’s broader effort to reinforce healthcare infrastructure following the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that hospitals are better equipped to handle emerging infectious diseases.
Present during the inauguration were Iloilo Provincial Administrator Dr. Raul Banias, DOH Western Visayas Center for Health Development Director IV Dr. Mar Wynn Bello, WVMC Medical Center Chief II Dr. Joseph Dean Nicolo, WVMC OIC-Chief of Medical Professional Staff Dr. Patricia Tobias, along with local government officials and representatives from partner institutions.
Officials said the facility symbolizes the strong collaboration between government agencies and development partners in ensuring Western Visayas remains prepared to confront present and future health threats while improving access to safe, quality and resilient healthcare services across the region./PN
