Zubiri bats for mass production of UP-developed COVID-19 test kits

The test kits developed by the University of the Philippines for the detection of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) needed to be mass-produced, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Tuesday.

“I urge the government and UP to immediately mass-produce this test kit, if supplemental budget is necessary for this, I am more than willing to sponsor the measure,” Zubiri said in a statement.

“Since this is more affordable and more accessible, we will able to cater to more patients,” he added.

The test kit was developed by local scientists at the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP­NIH) through funding provided by the Department of Science and Technology.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of these kits on Tuesday. 

Zubiri thanked local scientists for their timely achievement after the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine revealed they had just 2,000 test kits on hand.

Senator Joel Villanueva also congratulated the experts who developed the locally developed test kit.

“This breakthrough also shows the importance of the continued funding of research projects through the Department of Science and Technology, whom we've worked with at the last year's budget deliberation,” Villanueva said in a statement.

“We are encouraged by this development and we will continue to support the department's thrust to bring science closer to our people,” he added.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines climbed to 33 on Tuesday. — DVM, GMA News