Tents for patients: Angel Locsin launches campaign to address overcrowding at hospitals due to COVID-19

MANILA — Actress and philanthropist Angel Locsin launched on Wednesday a fundraiser to help address overcrowding at hospitals in Metro Manila and nearby provinces amid the surge of cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The campaign, dubbed #UniTENTweStandPH, aims to help private and public hospitals to "accommodate more patients who need immediate treatments while also prioritizing the safety of our health workers."

This, following successive announcements of some hospitals advising the public that they are now operating at full or over capacity, and would no longer be able to accept further patients.

For the first leg of the campaign, Locsin identified seven hospitals that would be given two tents, sized 12x24 meters. They are:

• South City Hospital and Medical Center (Daang Hari, Bacoor City)
• Las Piñas Doctors Hospital
• Las Piñas City Medical Center
• St. Frances Cabrini Hospital and Medical Center (Sto. Tomas, Batangas)
• UniHealth Parañaque Hospital and Medical Center
• Binakayan Hospital and Medical Center (Kawit, Cavite)
• PNP Hospital

Each tent, Locsin said, would cost around P50,000, based on her recent project of providing the same to Taguig Pateros District Hospital. Early this week, Locsin spearheaded the setup of tents for healthcare workers there, amid transport woes due to the Luzon-wide lockdown.

"If this campaign will be a success, we are hoping to reach other hospitals in Luzon and eventually in other parts of the country," Locsin wrote.

"I have avoided asking for financial donations but for now, it is best that we gather more resources and funding to be able to widen the reach, service and sustainability of this project. I would appreciate anything you can offer for this cause to help our fellow Filipinos survive this difficult time," she said.