The office of Vice President Leni Robredo today donated P7-million worth of coronavirus test and extraction kits developed by University of the Philippines (UP) scientists for Iloilo and Iloilo City.
(OVP / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Robredo delivered a virtual message during the turnover.
Iloilo Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas received the donation from Robredo.
She said the detection and extraction kits may be used for the conduct of 1,600 coronavirus tests in Iloilo and another 3,900 tests in Iloilo City.
“There was a spike of cases in Iloilo City two weeks ago. We asked them what they needed the most at this point and they identified the test kits,” she said.
Robredo added she hoped these would be a big help to the province in battling COVID-19.
“I have no doubt that Iloilo will rise out of this stronger and better because the local officials are the kind of public servants every one of us has been hoping for,” she said.
Robredo had delivered various forms of assistance to Iloilo, from personal protective equipment (PPE) sets to medical supplies, since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in March.
She also launched a feeding program for residents affected by the pandemic in six municipalities of the province – Calinog, Miyag-ao, Pototan, Carles, Concepcion, and Banotoc-Viego.