BUTUAN CITY - The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) opened a bio-molecular laboratory in Surigao City on Wednesday, January 13.
The new laboratory will be able to serve the entire province of Surigao del Norte, its component city of Surigao and the nearby provinces for faster testing of the residents.
This new laboratory is equipped with two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines, and one ribonucleic acid (RNA) extractor that can process up to 2,000 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests a day.
“With the completion of the Surigao molecular laboratory, we can pave the way to test more people and help stop the spread of the virus,” saiud PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Office Senator Richard Gordon.
Surigao del Norte Gov. Francisco T. Matugas, first district Rep. Francisco Jose “Bingo” F. Matugas ll and Surigao City Mayor Estong Matugas expressed gratitude to the PRC, led by Gordon, for the establishment of the laboratory.
“This is a big help in our continuing fight against this COVID-19 virus,” Rep. Matugas said.
The 2,000-square meter area laboratory is located at Kilometer 9, Barangay Bonifacio, Surigao City, and was also established with the help of the Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation, Nickel Asia Corporation and the provincial government of Surigao del Norte.