Project ARK conducts more than 4,000 rapid tests in QC
Published May 28, 2020 12:00 am
By MB Online
Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion on Thursday announced the completion of 4,141 rapid tests from Project ARK (Antibody Rapid test Kits) in Quezon City.
Presidential adviser on entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) The tests were conducted in partnership with Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte. Concepcion said the test kits were donated by the private sector partners – GT Capital, Wilcon Depot, RFM Corporation, and the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc (FFCCCII). From those tested, 3,342 were negative; 642 were IgG-positive which means they’ve had the virus and were able to recover and build antibodies; 20 people were deemed IgM-positive; 137 tested IgG/IgM-positive, and 30 were symptomatic. A total of 186 people were immediately directed to appropriate hospital facilities for a complimentary RT-PCR swab testing. “The efforts of both the government and the private sector are basically focused on saving lives and livelihoods. The only way we can open the economy safely is to create greater visibility. Creating visibility is to do a lot of testing. Targeted mass testing is our approach, whether we use RT-PCR or rapid test kits, whatever testing methods are available out there that give us good visibility is what we have to do,” Concepcion said He also added that Project ARK will be rolling out helping other cities in Metro Manila as well as other nearby provinces. “We continue our efforts with the LGUs. Testing has to happen to create visibility.” Mayor Belmonte also expressed her gratitude to Project ARK. “We are great believers in testing and in fact we have already established six community-based testing facilities. When this project was brought up, I was really excited. We’re advised that rapid testing is always done in conjunction with the PCR test. I always believe that rapid test is a really good way for us to gauge and screen who should we administer the PCR test given that these tests are expensive so we embrace this project wholeheartedly,” she said. Project ARK led by Concepcion bands together with various private companies and business conglomerates in the country that aims to ramp up both rapid and RT-PCR testing in the country. With the data collected from these efforts, the government and different industries can gain better visibility of the enemy and develop better strategies to combat the virus. Barangay implementation is part of Project ARK’s bayanihan initiative. In addition to supporting the screening of employees to ensure safety at work, Project ARK encourages companies to lead the voluntary testing of barangay citizens. As of date, Project ARK has generated more than 1.2 million rapid test kits from close to 300 companies. Project ARK has also conducted close to 30,000 tests with the LGUs of Pasig, Taguig, Quezon City, Makati, and Antipolo to bring mass testing down to the community level. In attendance at the virtual presser were Quezon City Association of Filipino Chinese Businessmen, Inc. president and FFCCCII director Joseph Lim Bon Huan and founder and chairman emeritus of Wilcon Depot William Belo, who were also among the donors for Quezon City. Also present were Project ARK medical team leader Dra. Minguita Padilla, ARK project lead Josephine Romero, Project pilot lead for LGU Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, Project coordinator for communitybased testing of QC Joseph Juico, and Dr. Rolando Cruz, head of QC CESU City Epidemiologist/Surveillance Officer.
Presidential adviser on entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) The tests were conducted in partnership with Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte. Concepcion said the test kits were donated by the private sector partners – GT Capital, Wilcon Depot, RFM Corporation, and the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc (FFCCCII). From those tested, 3,342 were negative; 642 were IgG-positive which means they’ve had the virus and were able to recover and build antibodies; 20 people were deemed IgM-positive; 137 tested IgG/IgM-positive, and 30 were symptomatic. A total of 186 people were immediately directed to appropriate hospital facilities for a complimentary RT-PCR swab testing. “The efforts of both the government and the private sector are basically focused on saving lives and livelihoods. The only way we can open the economy safely is to create greater visibility. Creating visibility is to do a lot of testing. Targeted mass testing is our approach, whether we use RT-PCR or rapid test kits, whatever testing methods are available out there that give us good visibility is what we have to do,” Concepcion said He also added that Project ARK will be rolling out helping other cities in Metro Manila as well as other nearby provinces. “We continue our efforts with the LGUs. Testing has to happen to create visibility.” Mayor Belmonte also expressed her gratitude to Project ARK. “We are great believers in testing and in fact we have already established six community-based testing facilities. When this project was brought up, I was really excited. We’re advised that rapid testing is always done in conjunction with the PCR test. I always believe that rapid test is a really good way for us to gauge and screen who should we administer the PCR test given that these tests are expensive so we embrace this project wholeheartedly,” she said. Project ARK led by Concepcion bands together with various private companies and business conglomerates in the country that aims to ramp up both rapid and RT-PCR testing in the country. With the data collected from these efforts, the government and different industries can gain better visibility of the enemy and develop better strategies to combat the virus. Barangay implementation is part of Project ARK’s bayanihan initiative. In addition to supporting the screening of employees to ensure safety at work, Project ARK encourages companies to lead the voluntary testing of barangay citizens. As of date, Project ARK has generated more than 1.2 million rapid test kits from close to 300 companies. Project ARK has also conducted close to 30,000 tests with the LGUs of Pasig, Taguig, Quezon City, Makati, and Antipolo to bring mass testing down to the community level. In attendance at the virtual presser were Quezon City Association of Filipino Chinese Businessmen, Inc. president and FFCCCII director Joseph Lim Bon Huan and founder and chairman emeritus of Wilcon Depot William Belo, who were also among the donors for Quezon City. Also present were Project ARK medical team leader Dra. Minguita Padilla, ARK project lead Josephine Romero, Project pilot lead for LGU Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, Project coordinator for communitybased testing of QC Joseph Juico, and Dr. Rolando Cruz, head of QC CESU City Epidemiologist/Surveillance Officer.