Bulacan to have own molecular laboratory for swab testing
Published May 19, 2020 00:00 am
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Updated May 19, 2020 00:00 am
By Freddie Velez
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan – The provincial government here is seeking to expand its mass testing capacity for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by building the Bulacan’s own molecular laboratory at the Bulacan Medical Center (BMC).
Governor Daniel R. Fernando
(Facebook / Bulacan PIO / MANILA BULLETIN) This was disclosed by Governor Daniel R. Fernando who cited the need for the province to have its own testing laboratory so that specimens could be processed faster. “Kailangan na natin ng sarili nating laboratory dahil ngayon, siksikan na ang ibang testing center na pinagpapasahan ng mga swab kits. We need to identify who is negative and who is positive, lalo na sa mga nasa laylayan ng lipunan na nakalagay sa datos natin. Kinakailangan ma-swab natin ang mga iyon,” the governor said. According to Fernando, the construction of the molecular laboratory has already started, and, once completed, it will not only benefit COVID-19 patients, but also those ailing with other diseases. “Ngayon ay nagsisimula na ang paglilipat ng mga gamit sa pagtatayuan ng lab. Kapag iyan ay nagawa na, magtutuluy-tuloy na yan. Ang iintayin na lang natin ay ang vaccine laban sa COVID-19. Pero hanggang wala pa ang vaccine, mag-operate tayo diyan sa gagawing molecular lab. Isa pa, hindi lang sa sakit na COVID-19 magagamit itong molecular lab na ilalagay natin sa BMC but also those ailing with other diseases,” he added. According to Incident Commander and Provincial Health Office-Public Heath Head Dr. Jocelyn Gomez, the provincial government has entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), which provided 1,428 swab testing kits. PRC also agreed to process the testing of these swab samples. In addition, the provincial government will also enter into an agreement with Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH) in San Fernando, Pampanga which is expected to accept swab test specimens from Bulacan within this week.
Governor Daniel R. Fernando(Facebook / Bulacan PIO / MANILA BULLETIN) This was disclosed by Governor Daniel R. Fernando who cited the need for the province to have its own testing laboratory so that specimens could be processed faster. “Kailangan na natin ng sarili nating laboratory dahil ngayon, siksikan na ang ibang testing center na pinagpapasahan ng mga swab kits. We need to identify who is negative and who is positive, lalo na sa mga nasa laylayan ng lipunan na nakalagay sa datos natin. Kinakailangan ma-swab natin ang mga iyon,” the governor said. According to Fernando, the construction of the molecular laboratory has already started, and, once completed, it will not only benefit COVID-19 patients, but also those ailing with other diseases. “Ngayon ay nagsisimula na ang paglilipat ng mga gamit sa pagtatayuan ng lab. Kapag iyan ay nagawa na, magtutuluy-tuloy na yan. Ang iintayin na lang natin ay ang vaccine laban sa COVID-19. Pero hanggang wala pa ang vaccine, mag-operate tayo diyan sa gagawing molecular lab. Isa pa, hindi lang sa sakit na COVID-19 magagamit itong molecular lab na ilalagay natin sa BMC but also those ailing with other diseases,” he added. According to Incident Commander and Provincial Health Office-Public Heath Head Dr. Jocelyn Gomez, the provincial government has entered into a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), which provided 1,428 swab testing kits. PRC also agreed to process the testing of these swab samples. In addition, the provincial government will also enter into an agreement with Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH) in San Fernando, Pampanga which is expected to accept swab test specimens from Bulacan within this week.