Marikina finds new place for Covid-19 testing center

NEW COVID-19 TESTING CENTER SITE. Marikina City Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro (left) inspects the new two-story building in Barangay Concepcion Uno on Monday (March 30, 2020). He said the building will be recommended to the Department of Health as new site for coronavirus disease testing center in Marikina. (Photo courtesy Marikina PIO).

MANILA – Marikina City Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro on Monday inspected a two-story building it will recommended to the Department of Health (DOH) as the city’s new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) testing center.

He said the newly-constructed 160-square meter building is located in a not populated but accessible area along Bayan-Bayanan Avenue in Barangay Concepcion Uno.

“This is a freestanding structure. Hindi populated ‘yung (not populated) area, accessible. It is located along a main avenue in Marikina. In terms of location, mukha ito ang suitable na sinasabi nila (I think it is suitable as they (DOH) said),” he said in a statement.

Teodoro assured his constituents the risk assessment template and protocol of biohazard measures are strictly followed by the local government.

“Mayroon tayong (We followed) risk assessment template na sinunod of highest standard and strict adherence to the protocol of biohazard measures ang pinapa-implement natin dito (implemented here),” he said.

“Hindi lang doon sa in terms of trained personnel na mayroon tayo, hindi lang ‘yung work process kundi pati ang layout ng laboratory ay sumusunod doon sa biohazard safety (Not only in terms of trained personnel that we have, not only the work process but the layout of the laboratory are based on biohazard safety),” he added.

He said a dedicated ambulance for Marikina Covid-19 testing center will be on standby at the facility.

Earlier, the DOH disapproved the Marikina Covid-19 Testing Center located at the Marikina City Health Office (CHO), saying the local government should build a separate building for the facility to be operational.

The DOH recommended that the Covid-19 testing facility should be placed outside the CHO so that cross-infection will be minimized, and less foot traffic will be observed for the protection of staff and Marikina residents.

Teodoro said the new testing center has no other offices and clinics.

“Ang narito lang ay ang laboratory. Kaya ang tao lang makikita rito at ang mga pathologists, medical technologists, at lab technicians (What we have here is the laboratory only. So, what you can see are only the pathologists, medical technologists and laboratory technicians),” he said.

Kennedy Sueno, City’s Engineer Office chief, said the new Marikina Covid-19 Testing Center will be completed within two weeks.