FIGHT VS COVID. The city disaster risk reduction and management council (CDRRMC) approves PHP77.129-million fund for various Covid-19 activities on Thursday (March 19, 2020). Among others, the fund will be used for the acquisition of laboratory materials and test kits. (PNA photo by Iloilo City PIO)
ILOILO CITY – A Department of Health (DOH) accredited medical technologist will test patients under investigation (PUIs) in Iloilo on Saturday.
Mayor Jerry Treñas announced the event after receiving a call from Health Secretary Francisco Duque on Friday as the city government expects 100 test kits for coronavirus disease to arrive any time from Manila.
“Under the Department of Health’s updated decision tool, only the elderly, those with underlying conditions and those with ailments have progressed to severe to critical would be tested for the virus,” Treñas said.
He added that the DOH is also working on several laboratories in Iloilo to “try to accredit medical technologists and centers to read the tests”.
In a press conference on Thursday, the mayor said “We are moving heaven and earth to have the laboratory of WVMC (Western Visayas Medical Center) accredited”.
“We have med techs all over the city. Once we get accredited, we only have to secure test kits,” he said.
The Sangguniang Panlugsod (SP) approved in a special session on Friday the fund for various projects and activities related to the Covid-19 efforts of the city government.
The approved resolution for PHP77.129-million fund will be sourced from the unexpended local disaster risk reduction management (LDRRM) fund and quick response fund (QRF).
The PHP34.33-million fund to be sourced from the QRF will be used for personal protective equipment (PPE), disaster response supply and equipment, laboratory materials/testing kits and contingency fund.
Meanwhile, the PHP42.79 million from the 2019 unexpended LDRRM fund will be used for medical equipment for the quarantine center. (PNA)
