COVID-19 TESTING CENTER. Senator Joel Villanueva (right) leads the inauguration of the Covid-19 testing facility in Bocaue, Bulacan which was named after her sister, the late Mayor Joni Villanueva on Friday (July 17, 2020). Also in photo were Governor Daniel Fernando (2nd from left), and Guiguinto Mayor Ambrosio Cruz Jr., the Bulacan Mayor’s League president. (Photo by Manny Balbin)
BOCAUE, Bulacan – Another testing facility for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in this province was inaugurated here on Friday through the joint efforts of the public and private sectors.
Senator Joel Villanueva led the inauguration of the Covid-19 testing facility named after her sister, the late Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva.
The Joni Villanueva Molecular Laboratory (JVML) is located at the two-hectare compound of Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital (JBLMH) extension, also known as Joaquin T. Villanueva Medical Center in Barangay Igulot here.
“We are very happy that now we have our own molecular laboratory here and grateful that it was named after my sister. This will cater not only to Bocaueños but also the entire province,” Villanueva said.
The PHP60-million testing facility can accommodate an initial of 1,500 patients up to 5,000 a day for as low as PHP2,000 per testing kit.
Roy Del Rosario, project director of JVML, said the facility will be managed by Marilao Medical and Diagnostic Hospital, a private sector, and to be operational on Wednesday next week with state-of-the-art machinery to be used for Covid-19 testing.
Governor Daniel Fernando, who also graced the inauguration ceremony, remembered the late mayor Joni Villanueva in her perseverance to have the testing center and the dedication to serve fellow Bocaueños despite her health condition during the quarantine period.
The governor also lauded the initiatives of the mayors and the support of Senator Villanueva.
"This will also help the recently inaugurated Bulacan Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory in catering Bulakenyos for swab testing," Fernando said.
Bulacan Mayor’s League president Mayor Ambrosio “Boy” Cruz Jr. of Guiguinto town said the JVML is the best example of a joint project from the private and public sector.
“Sa totoo lang, ang utak ng proyektong ito ay si Mayor Joni Villanueva, siya talaga ang unang nakaisip na magkaroon ng Covid-19 testing lab sa Bocaue sa tulong ng mga kasama naming mga mayor na sumuporta immediately at nag-commit na mag-kontribusyon maisakatuparan lang ang project na ito (To be honest, this project was brainchild of Mayor Joni Villanueva. She was the first to think of having Covid-19 testing lab here in Bocaue with the help of our fellow mayors who supported immediately and committed to contribute for the realization of this project),” Cruz said.
At present, the province has three testing laboratories the GeneExpert Laboratory at the Bulacan Medical Center extension building that was inaugurated last June 25, the Bulacan Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory which was inaugurated last Wednesday and now the JVML.
These three testing facilities could be used to test gathered specimens for tuberculosis, flu, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Hepatitis B and C by using the PCR machine, DNA and RNA that can be quantified, and be used to detect the presence of a specific virus or bacteria. (PNA)
