Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Benny Antiporda has turned over a swab testing booth to a local Lions Club chapter in hopes of helping Cavite control the spread of the dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The swab testing booth donated by Lions Club International and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (Photo from bennyantiporda.wordpress.com)

Tagaytay City La Praire Lions Club President Danny Detecio received the telephone-style testing booth at the organization's headquarters in Pasay City last May 19.

On hand was Antiporda, the undersecretary for solid waste management and Local Government Unit (LGU) concerns; and his wife, Lions Club International District 301-A2 First Vice District Governor Jesusa Antiporda.

The new swab testing booth will be given to the municipality of Alfonso, Cavite through Mayor Randy Salamat, who himself tested positive for COVID-19 last March 24. He has fully recovered since.

Undersecretary Antiporda said the activity was a joint project between DENR and Lions Club. He also serves as governor of Lions Club International District of 301-A2, it should be noted.

“Ang members ng Lions Club ay laging naglilingkod para sa tao kahit na minsan hindi na rin nila naaalagaan ang mga sarili nila (Lions Club members are always ready to serve others even if at times, they fail to take care of themselves),” he said.

Jesusa Antiporda (left) and DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda (Photo from bennyantiporda.wordpress.com)

“This additional COVID-19 swabbing booth will hopefully help our health workers take more samples from patients and individuals, and protect them from any exposure to the virus,” the DENR official added.

The Antiporda couple also survived an episode with COVID-19 last month.

As per DOH figures, Cavite is among the cities with the highest number of active cases of the illness in the entire country. Cavite had 63,731 active cases as of May 24.

Undersecretary Antiporda has also been spearheading webinars on ways to avoid contracting the virus, on top of creating a support group for COVID-19 patients and survivors within DENR.

#swab testing booth

DENR exec turns over swab testing booth to help Cavite fight COVID-19