Robredo hits slow COVID-19 testing for OFWs
Published May 24, 2020 12:00 am
By Raymund Antonio
Health authorities should revisit their policy on the accreditation of laboratories for coronavirus testing as more quarantined overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) complain about delays in the release of their test results, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Sunday.
Vice-President Leni Robredo (OVP / Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
Robredo, a lawyer, said she found “heartbreaking” the situation of OFWs who count weeks in quarantine facilities while waiting for COVID-19 tests results.
“Mayroong mga sumusulat sa amin halos isang buwan na sila sa loob ng quarantine facility. Hindi sila makauwi sa kanila, kasi pinahihintay iyong test results (There are some OFWs who informed us through writing that they have been inside a quarantine facility for almost a month. They can’t go home because they have to wait for the test results),” she said in her radio program.
“So para sa akin, hindi na makatarungan iyong ganito na sumunod ka naman sa lahat ng regulasyon. Ano ba iyong nakakaabala sa test na iyon? (For me, this is unfair for those who followed all the regulations. What causes the delay in that test),” Robredo asked.
The Vice President said government officials have only themselves to blame for not hastening the COVID-19 testing process.
“Itong mga OFWs, biktima ito ng kabagalan natin (These OFWs are victims of our slow action),” she said.
The Department of Health (DOH) has increased its testing capacity, and is targeting to achieve 30,000 tests per day by end of the month.
There are currently 33 accredited testing laboratories, and the agency targets to expand this number nationwide.
Robredo suggested that government allow capable private companies to help in the accreditation of laboratories to ramp up the testing capacity.
“Kung kakaunti sila nag-a-accredit, bakit hindi payagan iyong private ng tumulong sa pag-accredit. Hindi naman natin nasosolo iyon kapasidad sa gobyerno (Why does government not allow private firms to help in the accreditation if there are only a few who are doing the accreditation. Government cannot do it on its own),” Robredo added.
Vice-President Leni Robredo (OVP / Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
Robredo, a lawyer, said she found “heartbreaking” the situation of OFWs who count weeks in quarantine facilities while waiting for COVID-19 tests results.
“Mayroong mga sumusulat sa amin halos isang buwan na sila sa loob ng quarantine facility. Hindi sila makauwi sa kanila, kasi pinahihintay iyong test results (There are some OFWs who informed us through writing that they have been inside a quarantine facility for almost a month. They can’t go home because they have to wait for the test results),” she said in her radio program.
“So para sa akin, hindi na makatarungan iyong ganito na sumunod ka naman sa lahat ng regulasyon. Ano ba iyong nakakaabala sa test na iyon? (For me, this is unfair for those who followed all the regulations. What causes the delay in that test),” Robredo asked.
The Vice President said government officials have only themselves to blame for not hastening the COVID-19 testing process.
“Itong mga OFWs, biktima ito ng kabagalan natin (These OFWs are victims of our slow action),” she said.
The Department of Health (DOH) has increased its testing capacity, and is targeting to achieve 30,000 tests per day by end of the month.
There are currently 33 accredited testing laboratories, and the agency targets to expand this number nationwide.
Robredo suggested that government allow capable private companies to help in the accreditation of laboratories to ramp up the testing capacity.
“Kung kakaunti sila nag-a-accredit, bakit hindi payagan iyong private ng tumulong sa pag-accredit. Hindi naman natin nasosolo iyon kapasidad sa gobyerno (Why does government not allow private firms to help in the accreditation if there are only a few who are doing the accreditation. Government cannot do it on its own),” Robredo added.