CEBU CITY—The construction of the molecular laboratory at the Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO 7) is nearing completion.

          The P13-million facility, which will serve as a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing center for law enforcers and other frontliners in the region, will be operational next month, according to PRO 7 Director Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius.

          “This laboratory is very important Hopefully, it can serve our law enforcement units for immediate testing,” said Ferro.

          The laboratory and the swab booths are 100 percent ready, while the billeting area for medical technologists is already 92 percent ready, said Ferro.

          Once the construction is completed, PRO 7 will just await accreditation from the Department of Health for it to become fully operational.

“The DOH promised that they will assist us,” said Ferro.

Ferro added that Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, chief pathologist of DOH Central Visayas, has volunteered to help run the laboratory, which will operate under PRO 7’s Regional Health Service.

“Dr. Loreche volunteered to be the servicing pathologist so the process will now be easier,” said Ferro.  

Ferro said Cebu City will also benefit from the laboratory, which is located inside the Camp Sotero Cabahug on Osmena Boulevard.

“We will help he city if they need some help in testing. We can help test PUPC (persons under police custody) and other Cebu City citizens that could be served by our lab,” said Ferro.