Nationalist People's Coalition seeks more inclusive COVID-19 testing

The Nationalist People's Coalition on Monday urged the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to facilitate a more inclusive mass testing program for the detection of coronavirus disease 2019 in the country (COVID-19).

In its Resolution No. 1 adopted on April 17, the political party said that the steady rise of confirmed and suspected cases of COVID-19 was "of serious national concern."

It stressed that symptomatic persons, on several occasions, died "without having been tested before they were cremated."

The party urged the IATF and Department of Health (DOH) to expedite the efficient and more inclusive testing of Filipinos through PCR-based and rapid antibody test kits.

It added that unimpeded implementation of the guidelines on setting up COVID-19 testing laboratories, and training of medical technologists should be ensured by the DOH.

A classificatory statement on the utilization of local government funds for the purchase of rapid test kits, pursuant to DOH guidelines and protocols, should likewise be issued by the IATF, according to the NPC.

Transparent reporting of COVID-19-related data should also be ensured by the government.

The said resolution was sent to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Monday.

There were currently 17 accredited COVID-19 testing laboratories in the country and over 52,000 individuals have been tested nationwide, according to the DOH.

The department hopes to be able to test 10,000 people daily by the end of April.

As of April 19, the Philippines recorded 6,259 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 409 deaths and 572 recoveries. — DVM, GMA News