Gov't eyes 78 COVID-19 testing labs by May 30

The National Task Force Against COVID-19 is targeting to ramp up the number of COVID-19 testing laboratories to 78 by the end of May in a bid to boost the country’s testing capacity as the government moves to relax quarantine measures and shifts focus on testing.

“Target natin by May 30, 78 na ang laboratoryo sa buong Pilipinas,” NTF deputy chief implementer Vivencio Dizon said during a Palace briefing on Tuesday.

Increasing the number of testing laboratories will boost the country’s capacity to conduct 30,000 tests per day, which is at par with South Korea, according to Dizon.

“Gusto natin po sa pamamagitan ng 78 laboratories na ito ay tumaas tayo sa 30,000 testing per day by May 30 at gagawin natin ito sa tulong ng private sector,” he said.

As of the latest Department of Health (DOH) situation report, there are a total 22 licensed laboratories which can conduct the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing.

Dizon said the existing labs have the capacity of 5,000 tests per day.

“Ang laban po natin dito ay ang sakit na COVID-19 kaya lang po ang problema natin nagtatago po ang sakit na yan sa ating mga kababayan kaya po an gating kailangang gawin ay mag-tests, kapag po ginawa natin yan marami po tayong mga maisasalbang buhay,” he said.

“Mari-ready na po natin ‘yung mga swabbing center, para doon po natin sila isa-swab sa isang safe na lugar hindi lamang po sa ating mga kababayan at OFWs maging sa mga frontliners,” he added.

Dizon said the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan, Mall of Asia in Pasay, Enderun Colleges in Taguig and Palacio de Maynila Tent in Manila are being readied as “mega swabbing centers.”

The Palacio de Maynila Tent, an events venue, will start operation as a swabbing center on Wednesday.

“Meron po ayong itinayo sa NAIA-2 at NAIA-1, automatic pagbukas ng airport at paglabag n gating mga kababayan ay i-tetest nap o agad sila,” he said.

“Sa mga swabbing facilities po natin, nagpapasalamat po tayo sa mga private groups sa pagtulong sa paggawa at pagpapagamit ng mga facilities na ito,” he added. --KBK, GMA News