President Duterte has ordered authorities to hasten the coronavirus testing of returning overseas Filipinos workers after receiving complaints of delayed results.
Addressing the nation Monday night, the President said some OFWs have complained that their test results have been delayed for at least three days.
Duterte immediately got an assurance from Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that the issue has already been addressed.
The government earlier required incoming passengers to undergo facility-based quarantine upon arrival. They are expected to take a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test on the fifth day from date of arrival in the country unless the passenger shows symptoms while on quarantine.
"It has come to my attention that the swab tests of the OFWs is three days delayed. Whatever is causing this delay must be addressed immediately," the President said during his televised address Monday, March 22.
Lorenzana, who was present in the meeting with the President, acknowledged the recent delayed release in swab test results but assured that the situation has returned to normal.
Lorenzana, head of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said the three-day delay occurred when the Philippine Red Cross encountered "massive infections” that prompted the organization to temporarily halt its testing services. He said government hospitals helped Red Cross with the testing load and worked "double time” to meet the needs of the OFWs arriving in the country.
"I think it's already back to normal ngayon (now),” the defense chief told the President.
"Okay na 'yan. Na-stabilize na uli 'yung proseso (That's okay now. The process has been stabilized)," he added.
After listening to Lorenzana's report, the President welcomed the development. "That's good,” Duterte said.