More than two weeks after the Magnitude 7.8 earthquake devastated parts of Sarangani province near Koronadal City, patients at the Glan Municipal Hospital continue to receive treatment in an improvised field hospital set up on a school football field — exposed to the elements and over 35-degree heat.
The 30-bed Municipal Hospital in Glan was declared a red-tagged structure following the June 8 earthquake, forcing the Municipal Health Office to relocate all patients and most facilities to the football field of the Glan School of Arts and Trades in Barangay E. Alegado.
Patients at the Mercy of the Elements
Engr. Elnar Watin, head of engineering and maintenance at the Municipal Health Office, said patients have been exposed to temperatures reaching above 35 degrees Celsius in the past days. When it rains, the shelter tents provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development may not fully protect them.
The facility continues to offer most outpatient services in what staff describe as an almost al-fresco setting — a breeze blowing instead of antiseptic hospital air. For critical cases, the hospital has no choice but to refer patients to more capable facilities in nearby areas.
Surgical Operations Continue Despite Challenges
The field hospital runs a surgical facility operated by the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center. However, staff must also contend with aftershocks — over 8,300 have been recorded since the main quake, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, with magnitudes ranging from 1.2 to 6.4.
Staffers joked that the tremors did not allow them to “Duck, Cover, and Hold” but to “Stop, Drop, or Roll” instead, as one could not remain standing during the shaking.
“We are just worried about the wellbeing of our staff,” said Richelin Deyaya, chief nurse. The hospital operates with a rotating staff of 273, including 20 doctors, at least 60 nursing staff, and 30 maintenance personnel. Some staffers themselves have homes that were affected by the earthquake.
Urgent Needs
Both Watin and Deyaya expressed hope that aid would come to help patients beat the heat. Their wishlist includes window-type 2HP air conditioners, THHN wires, and electrical tape. The field hospital also needs to prioritize maintenance of its X-ray machine and surgical facilities, which require air-conditioning to ensure patients receive the best care.
Local officials reported that power was out in far-flung areas for almost a week after the quake. The Municipal Health Office is preparing for the pullout of supplementary teams by the end of June.
Broader Impact
The earthquake affected 48,020 families across 31 barangays in Glan alone, according to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office. Relief operations have distributed 84,844 family food packs through two waves of assistance, though some far-flung barangays remain difficult to access.
Communities across Sarangani province and the greater Soccsksargen region, including Koronadal City, continue to rebuild and recover from one of the most powerful earthquakes to hit Mindanao in recent memory.
Sources: MindaNews, Phivolcs