Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is providing quarantined patients in Kamia Hall, UP Diliman’s dormitory turned isolation facility, free fiber-powered internet in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
“We are glad to be part of the Philippine Red Cross’ broader efforts to ease the burden on congested hospitals in the metro by tappi,ng unused school facilities. With the generosity of educational institutions such as UP Diliman, resourceful initiatives such as this will go a long way in unburdening the hospitals,” said Jesus C. Romero, Converge Chief Operating Officer.
“As a provider of fast and reliable fixed broadband connection, we are proud to do our part in providing the digital infrastructure to support PRC’s operations, may they be in registering patients or just for the patients’ use so they feel connected even while they’re physically isolated, Romero added.
With Converge powering up the dormitory’s fiber broadband connection patients, and medical staff are given internet speeds up to 150 Mbps. This will be boosted further upon PRC’s provision of access points.
Earlier this month, the Philippine Red Cross spearheaded efforts to transform public and private school facilities into isolation wards, as hospitals continue to be overwhelmed by the surge in COVID-19 infections.
In close partnership with Metro Manila mayors, PRC has so far identified and converted facilities in Ateneo De Manila University, University of the Philippines Diliman, and De La Salle University into isolation centers dedicated to mild and asymptomatic cases.
The conversion of the Kamia Residence Hall particularly was a joint effort of the PRC, UP Diliman, the QC Health Department, the Philippine Medical Association and the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The Kamia dormitory has a bedspace of at least 180 to accommodate patients, medical staff, and equipment. According to the PRC, the Kamia Hall isolation facility has started admitting patients since April 19, 2021.
In May of last year, Converge provided the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) with free, enterprise-level fiber connectivity to ensure the taskforce has sufficient bandwidth for its communication and information dissemination needs.
Just this April, the country’s fastest-growing fiber internet provider linked up with the Department of Education and local government units to connect underprivileged public school students to learning platforms, to aid them in adapting to distance learning.
