Written by Enzo Luna

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion believes that the business sector must also recover from the COVID-19 pandemic because without livelihood or means to earn income, the people will starve to death.

But how do we solve it when majority of the country’s population cannot afford the cost of testing kits?

Concepcion announced on Wednesday that the city of Makati led by Mayor Abigail Binay will pilot the Go Negosyo’s pooled PCR testing this month. ARK PCR Chief Private Implementor Cong. Janette Garin, Tessie Sy-Coson, Chairwoman of BDO Unibank, Philippine Children’s Medical Center’s Dr. Julius Lecciones, and Dr. Raymond Lo were also present during the virtual MOA signing.

Concepcion also highlighted the significance of the partnership between the private sector and the local government units in winning the war against COVID-19 and thanked both BDO and Makati for their participation. “We are making the best out of this two-weeks. The challenge is how to co-exist with COVID-19. The objective is to save lives, jobs, and livelihoods. I’d like to thank Tessie for her untiring support. They have been supportive of every effort that is needed to help the health situation which is needed to help the economy. We cannot have a vibrant economy if we cannot control the health situation.”

BDO Foundation signed a memorandum with Makati City, the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship or Go Negosyo to start the pilot of Project ARK’s pooled testing by August 15.

Project ARK is a private-sector-led initiative that aims to boost the country’s capacity to identify and contain COVID-19.

The pooled testing program will benefit 10,000 workers in Makati and will help fix the issue between health and economy brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The recent revert to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) will hurt again the business sectors but it will give time for health workers to assess the dire effect of coronavirus. In many cases, the rapid increase or spike of the virus happens because of the high cost of medications and testing kits that are not affordable by the ordinary citizen.

Pooled PCR testing is expected to optimize the availability of test kits, reduce the workload of laboratory staff, eliminates large groups of negative cases, makes PCR testing more affordable and available, provides LGUs and businesses with a better and clearer direction, and restores confidence in returning to work while sustaining the gains of the initial lockdown.

BDO Foundation responds to the needs of the marginalized sector of society, especially those affected by disasters, for decent shelter and educational facilities, health care and sustainable livelihood.

BDO Foundation has already donated equipment and a lot of things needed to help the health situation and economy of the country, according to Concepcion.

The initial run of the pool testing will begin on August 15 with preliminary preparations to happen within the week as mentioned by Rep. Janette Garin, Project ARK, PCR Chief Private Implementor.

BDO Foundation President Mario Deriquito said during the virtual signing that they will continue supporting the local government (LGUs) in ways of donations of RT-PCR kits for patients who need individual testing. “BDO Foundation is ready to start the implementation of this program and will continue this in other key cities in the country with the partnership with LGUs,” Deriquito said.

Concepcion mentioned that there will be a lot from the private sector who are going to join this program. “LGUs in National capital region are very supportive,” he said.

“We are going to make the best out of this next two weeks, and the biggest challenge for us now is how we can co-exist with COVID-19. It is very important that we give hope to the Filipino people. This is one way of moving forward. We are not giving up on you (fellowmen),” Concepcion added before the end of the virtual meeting held right after the signing of the MOA.

ARK Project Lead Josephine Romero, Philippine Society of Pathologists, Inc. President Dr. Roberto Padua Jr., and President and CEO of BDO Unibank and trustee of BDO Foundation, Nestor V. Tan were among the attendees