The President’s yacht, Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Ang Pangulo, was converted to a floating quarantine facility for suspected COVID-19 patients.
Dr. Ricardo Audan, Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) chief of clinics and Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB), said that he joined the yacht inspection together with other SPMC personnel last Friday.
Audan also said Dr. Yvette Barez, head of the Infectious unit of SPMC, instructed SPMC personnel, Karrel Jones Catalino, Mark Angelo Andrada, Dave Martin Gepitulan, and Jose Colin Yee, to train staff on how to operate the facility.
More than 20 BRP Ang Pangulo personnel underwent training on how to put on and remove personal protective equipment (PPE), how to check the facility, and the do’s and don’t during operation.
Audan also said that the yacht would sail to Manila today to cater to suspected COVID-19 patients.
Ang Pangulo was initially planned to admit confirmed infected patients, but they recommended for it to be utilized for suspected cases only as COVID-19 positive patients require a hospital setting.
Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM) said the floating facility could accommodate up to 28 maximum patients aboard the ship with five medical staff. It is currently anchored at Sasa Wharf, Sasa, Davao City.
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President’s yacht BRP Ang Pangulo
President Rodrigo Duterte recommended the idea of converting the President’ Yacht into a quarantine facility to aid in housing COVID-19 patients.
The Presidential Security Group (PSG) controls the operations of Ang Pangulo. The Philippine Navy then initiated the ship’s remodeling.
The Navy said officers and enlisted personnel aboard ACS-25 lead the VIP compartments transformation into a COVID-19 medical ward and patients rooms. The medical staff and patients have different access points.
“The crew will remain on board while the ship is being utilized as a quarantine facility. They were already provided with PPEs while rapid antibody tests were conducted. All entry points from the crews billeting area and other compartments from the temporary medical facility and patient rooms were already sealed off,” the PN said.
BRP Ang Pangulo (AT-25) is a presidential yacht that was acquired by the Philippine government in 1959. President Carlos P. Garcia first used the yacht.