Mandaluyong City is now constructing its own molecular diagnostic laboratory capable of conducting coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests, Mayor Carmelita Abalos announced Monday. This is part of the city’s efforts to ramp up its testing capabilities to curb the spread of the disease.
The mayor said that the laboratory is now constructed inside the compound of the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH).
“Bilang tugon sa kinakailangang mass testing sa Mandaluyong, tayo po ay magkakaroon na ng sariling molecular diagnostic laboratory (In response to the need to conduct mass testing in Mandaluyong, we will now have our own molecular diagnostic laboratory),” Abalos said.
The mayor explained that the local government has initiated to build its own laboratory so that they will not have much difficulty in the mass testing of residents.
The local government has earlier partnered with the Philippine Red Cross for the processing of its swab tests at the humanitarian agency’s own molecular laboratory.
Jimmy Isidro, chief-of-staff of Abalos and the city’s public information officer, said the construction of the laboratory is fully funded by the local government.
In support of the Mandaluyong’s COVID-19 response, Isidro said the San Miguel Corporation has donated two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines to the local government which will then be installed at the laboratory once its finished.
“We are targeting that the laboratory will be fully operational by the end of October,” Isidro said.
As of September 13, Abalos reported that Mandaluyong has a total of 3,740 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of the total number, 1,014 are considered as active cases, 2,601 have recovered, and 125 have died.