By Calvin Cordova
CEBU CITY—The Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO 7) will be building a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) laboratory to help the government in its campaign against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Funds have already been earmarked for the establishment of the laboratory, which will be put up at the Camp Sotero Cabahug Headquarters where the Regional Health Service Unit is housed.
“The area was inspected already. Hopefully we can immediately come up with the structural design. The machine will come from Camp Crame and there will be pathologist doctors and other medical staff to man the RT-PCR laboratory,” said PRO-7 Director Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro.
There are at least 112 policemen under PRO 7 who were infected with the virus, but Ferro said this was not the reason why a laboratory will be built in PRO 7.
“This is part of our efforts to help President Duterte in the fight against COVID-19. While we will prioritize the police and other medical frontliners, the laboratory will also help other possible COVID-19 suspects,” said Ferro.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is spearheading the project of building RT-PCR laboratories will prioritize Region 7 and the National Capital Region.
Policemen from Regions 6 and 8 may also benefit from the laboratory, Ferro said.
“We will be fast-tracking this project because we need this badly,” said Ferro.
The PRO 7 director couldn't say yet as to when the laboratory will be operational, and how much budget was set aside for its construction.