Pasig City molecular lab gets license to operate

MASKS PARA SA MASA. The Pasig City government on Friday (Sept. 11) recieves face masks, personal protective equipment (PPE), and hygiene kits from the Department of Health. The Masks Para sa Masa program is a government strategic plan which aims to provide about 30 million free face masks to Filipinos amid the health crisis. (PNA photo by Joey Razon)

MANILA – The Pasig City molecular laboratory has passed the final stage of the Department of Health’s (DOH) process for laboratory registration and certification, allowing it to operate starting next week.

Secretary Vince Dizon, National Policy against Covid-19 Deputy Chief Implementer, on Friday announced the good news during the visit of officials of the Covid-19 Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) team headed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) and NTF in Pasig City.

Dizon said the Pasig city government has passed the final proficiency testing for its molecular laboratory and now licensed to conduct testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“I just want to congratulate Mayor Vico Sotto and the entire Pasig team dahil po yung laboratoryo sa (because your laboratory at the) Pasig City Children’s Hospital ay pumasa na (has passed). Congratulations,” he said, adding that the city government has passed the proficiency testing with only one take.

He said the DOH is set to release the city’s license to operate.

“Makakapag-test na po kayo (You can now conduct testing) starting next week,” said Dizon.

Meanwhile, Mayor Vico Sotto expressed delight over this development.

“This is the best news I’ve received this week,” Sotto said on his social media post.

Sotto congratulated the city’s molecular lab personnel for passing the test, which would help the local government to settle some recent backlogs on the Covid-19 testing.

“In the coming weeks, Pasigueños will feel the difference in the speed of testing and results,” he said.

Pasig City has been catering polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and enhanced chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) testing.

Sotto has earlier explained that ECLIA, a method used for antibody test for Covid-19, has a sensitivity or specificity rate of about 100 percent if used properly and the test results will be readily available in 24 hours.

He added that the molecular laboratory can also be useful even after the pandemic.

The machines and other equipment installed at the laboratory could also be used to test blood samples for other diseases including as dengue, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), among others.

During the visit, the DOH also turned over face masks, personal protective equipment (PPE) gears, and hygiene kits to the local government, as part of the “Masks Para sa Masa program,” a government plan which aims to provide about 30 million free domestically manufactured washable face masks to Filipinos amid the crisis.

At the sidelines of the visit, some barangay officials from the 201 villages in the city took their oath as part of the “Barangay Bida Brigades” under the “BIDA ang may Disiplina” campaign of the government.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the DOH earlier launched the “BIDA ang may Disiplina: Solusyon sa Covid-19,” an advocacy campaign to encourage public participation to combat the dreaded disease and further contain the local transmission within villages.

The ‘Barangay Disiplina Brigades’ are composed of community members, including barangay officials and other village personnel, who are tasked to remind their constituents to adhere to the minimum health standards and call the attention of those who violate health protocols.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier recognized the vital role of the barangays in the fight against pandemic saying “I have articulated here time and again. In case of emergencies, in the case of mobilization, the role of the barangay captains cannot be overemphasized.”

On the other hand, DILG Undersecretary Marjorie Jalosjos commended the Pasig city government for setting a good example to manage the Covid-19 in the city.

“Malaki rin po ang naging role ng mga barangay officials sa pagsugpo ng Covid-19. Tuluy-tuloy po tayo at hindi po tayo titigil kaya nga po kailangan may disiplina tayo sa ating mga sarili (Those barangay officials played a vital role in combating Covid-19. We will continue and we will not stop so we need to have self-discipline),” she said.

Jalosjos reminded the public to adhere to the government’s health protocols and preventive measures against Covid-19 and continue embrace the ‘new normal’ set up.

“Napakasimple lang po ang hinhingi sa ating ng gobyerno, patuloy tayong maghuhugas ng kamay, magsusuot ng face masks at face shield at kahit po magkaroon na tayong vaccine, eto na po muna ang magiging itsura natin (The government has only very simple request, continue the regular handwashing, wearing of face masks and face shields, and even if we could have our vaccines, these should be our image for the meantime),” Jalosjos added.