BDO Foundation and Makati City to spearhead pilot of pooled RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) testing

Written by Enzo Luna

Together with the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship or Go Negosyo, Mayor Abby Binay-led Makati City and BDO Foundation inked a memorandum to pilot the run of pooled RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) testing which will benefit 10,000 workers in Makati under Project ARK, a private-sector-led initiative that aims to boost the country’s capacity to identify and contain COVID-19.

Pooled testing, in which biological specimens (e.g., blood, urine, tissue swabs, etc.) from multiple subjects are combined and tested via a single test, can substantially improve the efficiency of public health screening and population-level surveillance of COVID-19. It is expected to optimize the availability of test kits, reduce the workload of laboratory staff, eliminates large groups of negative cases, makes PCR testing more affordable and available, provides LGUs and businesses with a better and clearer direction, and restores confidence in returning to work while sustaining the gains of the initial lockdown.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion studied the idea of  the application of pooled testing, considering it as a game changer for the country in fighting the coronavirus cases that will help bring down the cost for RT-PCR testing.

“The private sector will fund a pooled PCR testing pilot for 16 cities and one municipality in NCR this month. That represents about P160,000 pooled PCR tests that will be done for this part of the research. This will be a game-changer for our country. It could speed up testing, increase the capacity, and make it cheaper. Testing will create greater visibility,” said Concepcion.

The first company to respond to this call is BDO Foundation, BDO Unibank’s corporate social responsibility arm and channel for outreach and socio-economic development programs that responds to the needs of the marginalized sector of society, especially those affected by disasters, for decent shelter and educational facilities, health care and sustainable livelihood.

BDO Foundation has already donated equipment and a lot of things needed to help the health situation and economy of the country, according to Concepcion.

Together with BDO Foundation and the city government of Makati, initial run of Project ARK’s pooled testing will begin on August 15 with preliminary preparations to happen within the week as mentioned by Rep. Janette Garin, Project ARK, PCR Chief Private Implementor.

“The pooled testing technique by PSP is expected to reduce cost to approximately P350 to P450, depending on the situation,” said Garin on Wednesday during the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) has been signed for the project.

“It’s very difficult to be in a pandemic. But what inspires everybody, especially the health workers, is that when the private sector and government come together… Pooled testing does not only deal with a drastically reduced price, but it also deals with protecting our healthcare workers, hastening the turnaround time and making our laboratories the windows that can open and guide us where these viruses are. Go Negosyo and the partnership with BDO has made possible for us the circle with the entry of the city of Makati,” added Garin.

Mayor Binay is delighted that the pilot of the pooled testing will be conducted in her city. Binay mentioned that city is ready to conduct the pool testing as they’ve already set up booths and identified the 10,000 workers who shall be part of the pilot pool testing.

“We are very honored that pool testing will be first conducted in Makati. Our selected beneficiaries of the pool testing will receive tokens from the city government to encourage them to join to this program,” said Mayor Binay.

BDO Foundation President Mario Deriquito said during the virtual signing that they will continue supporting the local government (LGUs) in ways of donations of RT-PCR kits for patients who need individual testing. “BDO Foundation is ready to start the implementation of this program and will continue this in other key cities in the country with the partnership with LGUs,” Deriquito said.

ARK Project Lead Josephine Romero, Philippine Society of Pathologists, Inc. President Dr. Roberto Padua Jr., and President and CEO of BDO Unibank and trustee of BDO Foundation, Nestor V. Tan were among the attendees.