In a bid to increase testing to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Senator Richard J. Gordon said the 104 motorcycles donated recently by Honda to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) will be used to transport swab samples from remote areas in the country to the nearest PRC molecular laboratory.
“We will use the 104 motorcycles donated by Honda in areas like Masbate, Sorsogon and the many islands, to bring testing materials (swab) to the nearest laboratory. That way, we can have it done, faster,” he said.
With the country’s economy battered because of the three months long community quarantine that had to be enforced in an effort to prevent the spread of the contagion, Gordon called on the government and the people to work together to get the economy going again.
He stressed that testing is the key to getting the economy going since people could get back to their jobs if they have been tested negative.
Testing would also ensure that infected people could be separated from those who are not so they would be prevented from transmitting the virus and they could be given treatment, he explained.
“If we all work together, we can overcome it, we can do it. We have to get it all together. We can fix the problem if we really focus on testing the particular areas that need to be tested. We can ensure victory over COVID,” Gordon said.
Earlier, Gordon said the donated motorcycles could be used to deliver to people who need blood but cannot come to the PRC’s blood banks to get them.
He also stated that they could also be used for conducting rapid damage assessment in disaster-hit areas.