OROQUIETA, Misamis Occidental (PIA)–To ramp up efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 in the province, the Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental opened the new Misamis Occidental reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) Laboratory at Project Haven, Talairon, Oroquieta City, August 2.
Known as the most accurate test currently available in the industry for the detection of COVID-19, the facility is eyed to help the province speed up the service of the local government units (LGUs). It is also established to support hospitals and medical institutions in Misamis Occidental as well as neighboring provinces.
“Dako ni ug tabang natong tanan taga-MisOcc. Kami sa probinsya mudawat kung kinsa’y gusto magpa-testing dinhi (This is a big help for us here in MisOcc. We will accept anyone who wants to be tested here),” Governor Philip Tan said.
He further thanked President Rodrigo Duterte through Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go for the assistance in building the facility saying that the province could not afford the RT-PCR lab.
Tan added that the assistance given by the Office of the President is around P70 million and P50 million was released. Part of P50 million was purchased for the RT-PCR machine and the remaining budget was utilized for hospital needs.
The governor also announced that by the end of month, the province will soon open the Misamis Occidental Provincial Hospital (MOPH) and Calamba COVID-19 isolation facility.
As of August 3, the new Misamis Occidental RT-PCR lab can do 30 tests per day but individuals will have to coordinate with the LGU first to continue with the process.
Tan together with officials of provincial government and Provincial Health Office (PHO) led the blessing and ribbon cutting of the RT-PCR laboratory. (SMRN/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)
