In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

Gov’t calls for volunteerism to boost PH testing capacity

By Kris Crismundo

May 5, 2020, 9:07 pm

<p>National Policy Against Covid-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vivencio Dizon</p>

National Policy Against Covid-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vivencio Dizon

MANILA – Malacañang has called on medical professionals, medical students, and government employees to volunteer to ramp up the testing capacity in the country, National Policy Against Covid-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vivencio Dizon said on Tuesday.

In a virtual Palace briefing, Dizon said there is a need to get more personnel to help in manning the swabbing centers that the government will put up under its “Test, Trace, Treat” or T3 Program.

He said Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea has called on government employees to volunteer as encoders, among other tasks, to help in the swabbing centers’ operations.

“This is a call to all Filipinos, especially those involved in medical professions, our medical professionals, including those who are still studying. We already, in fact, reached out to universities to heed our call for swabbers and other volunteers to help us in this big task for testing,” Dizon said in Filipino.

Dizon, who is also the Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects as well as the Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and chief executive officer, said there will be four mega swabbing centers that are set to be completed next week.

Under the T3 Program, the government also eyes to operate a total of 78 laboratory testing centers by end-May.

“Our goal is to create a capacity of 30,000 daily testing by May 30,” he said.

Dizon said the swabbing booths will ensure that health workers will be protected from getting infected, while providing all front-liners with personal protective equipment.

He noted that health workers in testing centers before were infected by the Covid-19 because of the lack of proper facilities like swabbing booths but the government assures that health workers will be protected in the new mega swabbing centers.

Dizon said personnel in the swabbing centers will work in a six-hour shift. There will also be mandatory two-week quarantine.

“We are exerting all efforts to protect our front-liners,” he said. (PNA)

Comments