Four mega swabbing centers will be put up in Metro Manila next week to strengthen the country's capacity in massive testing for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
This was announced during the turnover of the We Heal As One Center-Philippine Arena Ciudad de Victoria in Bulacan held Thursday, April 30, by National Task Force COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects and Bases Conversion and Development Authority President and CEO Vince Dizon.
“Ang testing ay top priority ng ating Pangulo at ni Secretary Galvez at ng buong IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases]. Kaya kailangan nating magtayo ng mega swabbing centers,” Dizon said.
The government, with the help of the private sector, will initially construct swabbing centers in the northern, southern, eastern, and western sectors of Metro Manila.
The swabbing centers will be put up at the Philippine Sports Stadium inside the Philippine Arena (northern sector), the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City (southern sector), Enderun Colleges in Taguig City (eastern sector), and the Palacio de Maynila Tent in Roxas Boulevard (western sector).
“Malaking operasyon ito na gagawin natin through the Department of Health, and the various laboratories sa pamumuno ng RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine) at ng Philippine Red Cross. Sama-sama ito, bayanihan ulit para ma-test natin ang napakaraming Pilipino lalong lalo na ang overseas Filipino workers,” Dizon added.
A total of 250 testing booths will be set up inside these centers.
Through the help of the Department of Transportation, buses will be available in ferrying citizens to the swabbing centers. The swabbed specimens will then be transferred to the testing centers in Metro Manila and Luzon.
Dizon thanked the Iglesia Ni Cristo community, the SM Group led by the Sy family, the Udenna Group headed by business tycoon Dennis Uy, and Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation Vice Chairman Dr. Emilio Yap III in supporting the government in the initiative.
According to Galvez, President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive is to cover all provinces in the implementation of massive testing.
“Sa mga susunod na araw, iikot po kami sa Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao para tignan ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” Galvez said. “Ang gusto niya iyong access sa testing will be available to all.”
Galvez said the government's approach in the implementation of massive testing is “focused and targeted” which include COVID-19 carriers and immediate members of their families, suspected and probable cases, persons under monitoring (PUMs) who had contact with COVID patients, and frontliners, especially the health workers.
Earlier, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) opened two molecular laboratories in its office in Mandaluyong City. The laboratories can run up to 8,000 tests per day.
The Philippine Red Cross-Molecular Laboratory in Clark, Pampanga meanwhile will have three polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines, capable of conducting up to 1,500 tests per day, once fully operational.