Go Negosyo targets Makati PUV drivers, market vendors in pooled swab testing

Some 6,000 individuals are expected to be tested during the seven-day implementation of Go Negosyo’s pooled swab testing in Makati City which started Wednesday, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said.

Concepcion said the pooled swab testing is a "game-changer" for the country, saying it will reduce the cost of an individual RT-PCR test to P600 to P750.

“I thank our long-time partner and Big Brother, BDO Foundation led by Tessie Sy-Coson for supporting and funding the pilot run in Makati City," he expressed.

The private sector, according to him, will fund a pooled polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing pilot for selected cities and municipalities in the National Capital Region (NCR) and CALABARZON, adding they will bring more private sector companies to support more cities. 

"The more testing we do, the greater information we have on where the virus is in our communities and areas of control,” Concepcion noted.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay said the pooled swab testing will be done for Makati City’s most “exposed” and “vulnerable” sector – public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and market vendors.

“Today, Makati City is taking the first big step toward better, faster, and more implementable mass testing for COVID-19. I am proudly supporting this program because this is backed by scientific research. The results of this trial will have a big impact on local governments as well as businesses and countless industries in the years to come,” Mayor Abby said.

Binay said the Makati Coliseum has been converted into a “mass testing” center where swab samples will be collected and collated from some 6,000 residents from September 2 to 8.

Makati City was chosen as the pilot testing site for Project ARK’s science-based, pooled swab testing method. Pooled testing will deliver faster COVID-19 test results for large groups of people.

The city government of Makati, led by Mayor Binay, also pledged to continuously help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 through massive targeted testing, Concepcion said.

“Pooled testing will be helpful not just to our constituents but also to our business community who are unable to afford the P3500 PCR test. Hopefully, this will encourage our companies to open up; our employees will be assured that they are not spreading the virus as well. Hopefully, this is the answer we have been waiting for so we can all move forward, living with COVID,” she said during the launch at the Makati Coliseum.

Meanwhile, ARK (Antibody Rapid Test Kits) PCR Private Sector Chief Implementor Hon. Janette Garin said: “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."

Go Negosyo vowed to continuously bring more private sector companies to progressively roll out pooled testing to more cities in NCR, namely, Caloocan City, Las Piñas City, Malabon City, Mandaluyong City, Manila City, Marikina City, Municipality of Pateros, Muntinlupa City, Navotas City, Parañaque City. Pasay City, Pasig City, Quezon City, San Juan City, Taguig City, and Valenzuela City. 

Pooled PCR testing is expected to: optimize the availability of test kits; reduce the workload of laboratory staff; eliminate large groups of negative cases; make PCR testing more affordable and available; provide LGUs and businesses with a better and clearer direction; and restore confidence in returning to work while sustaining the gains of the initial lockdown.

National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, PLDT Smart Foundation, RFM Corporation, LT Group, Wilcon Depot, First Philippine Holdings Corporation & Lopez Group of Companies, GT Capital Holdings, Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing, Inc., Mercury Drug Corporation, Unilab Corporation, Filipino-Chinese Community Calamity Fund also pledged their support in conducting NCR-wide testing initiatives.

In addition, Go Negosyo private sector partners Penshoppe, CDO Foodsphere, Angkas, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc., Lazada Philippines, Universal Leaf Philippines, Inc., PTC Group, Century Pacific Food, Inc., and Lloyd Laboratories will also support and fund the initiative.