DOH to help Marikina build COVID-19 testing center

The Department of Health (DOH) will assess the laboratory testing center that the Marikina City government intends to put up for the detection of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the assessment will ensure that the laboratory facility follows the required biosafety standards.

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

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(As of now, the laboratory in Marikina is not certified. We have to make sure that the facility has the right health care workers, and that the laboratory and its facilities comply with biosafety measures)

Vergeire said that there would be a scheduled meeting between the DOH and the Marikina City government tomorrow, March 23, to discuss technical assistance that should be needed.

“Bibigyan po natin sila ng technical assistance para maitayo natin itong nilalayon ng Marikina City governemnt na magkaroon sila ng sariling laboratoryo para sa COVID testing,” she said.

(We will give them technical assistance so that we can build the laboratory being proposed by Marikina City so that they could have their own COVID-19 testing facility)

“Pupuntahan bukas ng kagawaran para mapag-usapan, ma-assess at maisayos po natin ito,” added Vergeire.

(The department will go there tomorrow so that we can talk about this, assess and straighten this out)

Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro recently announced that they partnered with the Manila Health Tek Inc, a biotechnology private company, to set up the said laboratory testing center for COVID-19.