IATF: LGUs must coordinate with DOH when acquiring test kits

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases reminded local government units on Sunday that they must first seek the approval of the Department of Health (DOH) prior to acquiring test kits for coronavirus disease 2019.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced that the task force had amended its Resolution No. 13 to add that “all LGUs must first coordinate with the Department of Health prior to acquiring, purchasing or utilizing testing kits within their respective territorial jurisdictions.”

The Marikina City Government earlier announced that it will begin COVID-19 testing on Tuesday, March 24, after it procured test kits and a Polymerase Chain Reaction machine for its molecular biology laboratory.

In a virtual press briefing earlier on Sunday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH has not yet certified Marikina’s laboratory for use.

Health authorities are set to meet with the government of Marikina on Monday to provide them with technical assistance.

“Sa ngayon po, hindi pa po certified ang laboratoryo ng Marikina. Kailangang matiyak natin na meron silang angkop na healthcare workers at ang laboratoryo nila at mga pasilidad ay masisiguro na meron silang biosafety measures sa kanilang laboratory,” Vergeire explained.

The Philippines has 380 cases of COVID-19 and 25 deaths due to the disease as of Sunday. — DVM, GMA News