MMDA, LTO set up Coronavirus (COVID-19) disinfection tents in NCR

MANILA: The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) have installed disinfection tents at strategic areas of the National Capital Region (NCR).

The sanitizing tents are situated in numerous government offices and public hospitals in Metro Manila to help control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The first disinfection tents were  set up last April 6 at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-National Relief Operations Center in Pasay City and at the DSWD satellite office in Commonwealth, Quezon City. Other MMDA sanitizing tents were installed at the Department of Health-Central Office in Tayuman, Manila, Malacañang Palace, East Avenue Medical Center, and the Philippine Heart Center.

MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim stated that the installation of disinfection tents is one of the agency's commitments to improve measures in combating COVID-19 in the country.

According to Lim, the decontamination tents aim to disinfect medical frontliners, hospital employees, and anyone who has urgent business going to the government offices or hospitals. The sanitizing tents will aid in containing the spread of the coronavirus. He also explained that the MMDA also has plans of establishing decontamination tents in major hospitals around Metro Manila.

Previously, the MMDA installed a decontamination tent at the entrance of its main office in Makati City. This was done through the help of the Sanitary Anti-Viral Entry Point or Savepoint, a private company, in line with the implementation of the nationwide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) last month.

Meanwhile, LTO disinfection tents were set up at the LTO Central Office along East Avenue in Quezon City, and the entrance of the LTO Public Assistance Complaint Desk. The said locations were also considered as staging sites of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Free Bus Ride for Health Workers Program.

Everyone who has official business in the government offices and those working or visiting the hospitals are required to enter the disinfection tents first.

Authorized personnel check the body temperatures of visitors and employees through a thermal scanner. Moreover, the decontamination tents have a diffuser system where disinfectant is sprayed onto people passing through it. Once done, they are allowed to enter the premises of public hospitals and government offices.

Photos from MMDA and DOTr official websites