New Covid-19 testing lab for seafarers launched

COVID-19 TEST LAB FOR SEAFARERS. Seafarers undergo “swab” testing at the new South Harbor Molecular Laboratory of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in Port of Manila on Monday (Oct. 5, 2020). The facility is capable of conducting up to 2,000 tests for Covid-19 daily, with a turnaround time of 24 to 48 hours. (Photo courtesy of PPA via PNA)

MANILA – The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Monday officially launched the South Harbor Molecular Laboratory in Port Area as part of the country’s commitment to be the “crew change capital of the world” for seafarers.

The facility is a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing laboratory for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) with a daily testing capacity of about 2,000 and a 24- to 48-hour turnaround time for results.

In a press conference, PPA general manager Jay Santiago said the new laboratory was established mainly to cater to the testing requirements of crew change hubs controlled by the PPA — the Port of Manila, Port Capinpin in Orion, Bataan, and Port of Batangas.

He said the facility will ease the processing of boarding and disembarking seafarers, noting that an exclusive Covid-19 test lab will help ensure that the country does not send off those infected with the virus.

“Ayaw natin na magkakaroon ng pagkakataon na makapagpadala tayo ng seafarer na hindi na-test, na-process ng husto. Hindi lang seafarer ang masisira kung hindi ang buong industriya, buong pamahalaan ng Pilipinas (We don’t want to send out untested and unprocessed seafarers. It’s not only the seafarer who will lose face, but it’s also the entire government of the Philippines),” Santiago said.

He said the Port of Manila also has a ‘one-stop-shop’ to assist both local and foreign seafarers in processing their travel requirements and in identifying possible isolation facilities to take their mandatory quarantine.

The facility, he said, has been in the pipeline since the government began its response against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Narciso Vingson, Jr., assistant secretary for maritime of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), said the one-stop-shop would also ensure that disembarking seafarers are able to go home with ease and free of possible infection with Covid-19.

“We will ensure na bago sila makauwi sa kanilang pamilya ay sila ay Covid-free at bago sila pumunta sa trabaho, at sumampa sa barko ay healthy at Covid-free din,” Vingson said.

The ‘one-stop-shop’ for seafarers houses satellite offices of government agencies such as the Maritime Industry Authority, the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Quarantine, and Bureau of Customs to ease the processing of inbound and outbound seafarers.