Makati offers cheaper Covid-19 test

The initiative is aimed at providing immediate medical treatment for the confirmed Covid-19 patients. (File photo: @unitednations/Unsplash)

MANILA –  Residents, business establishments, and other private companies can now avail of more affordable swab testing for coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the Makati City government said Friday.

In a social media post, Mayor Abigail Binay said the RT-PCR tests (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) would now be priced at PHP2,950 instead of the usual pricing that goes from PHP4,500 to over PHP8,000 at some private clinics and other hospitals within Metro Manila.

Binay said the city government has partnered with public hospitals and some private testing laboratories allowing more residents and business establishments to get quick Covid-19 tests.

The initiative is aimed at providing immediate medical treatment for the confirmed Covid-19 patients.

“I have always believed in mass testing as a way to prevent further transmission of the coronavirus. From the very start, Makati has looked for ways to bring Covid-19 tests to our employees and residents, especially the most vulnerable sectors of society,” Binay said.

According to the city government, real-time RT-PCR testing for coronavirus through getting swab samples is considered the gold standard of Covid-19 tests.

The city added RT-PCR testing method provides an accurate result.

The city government said the move is part of its measures to halt Covid-19 transmission while it slowly opens the local economy.

“Companies and businesses with large workforces can continue securing the health and safety of their employees by signing up for pooled swab tests,” the city said.

“This can be done regularly especially now that the majority of companies have asked their staff to resume working on-site.”

Business owners and other private companies can avail of pooled testing which costs P1,000 per person swabbed — good for at least 10 individuals.

Interested residents and private companies could book their RT-PCR tests privately by logging on to www.safemakati.com.