1,700 UP test kits to augment mass testing in Iloilo City

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

A total of 1,700 test kits developed by the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health (UP-NIH) were turned over to the Iloilo City government on Wednesday to help in the conduct of mass testing for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the metro.

The P2.6 million worth of testing kits were purchased by the city government using cash donations from Ledi Supermart, Life Extension, Iloilo City Commercial, and Metro Iloilo Bulk Water.

According to Mayor Jerry Treñas, the testing kits will be used in the mass testing of frontliners and symptomatic individuals in the metro.

“Gamiton naton ina sa aton nga mass testing. Una, we will test ang aton nga mga personnel who oversee our border points. After that, we will look at results. Dayon lantawon ta sa mga barangays, kon sa diin ang mga symptomatic kag itest man naton sila,” he said in a press conference on Wednesday.

The UP-NHI developed testing kits are the locally made polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based Covid-19 tests that were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the country.

The testing kits will be used to test personnel from the City Health Office (CHO), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Public Safety and Traffic Management Office (PSTMO) and other personnel from the city government, Treñas said.

The mayor said two additional medical technicians from West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC) will undergo training from the UP-NHI to help in the testing process.

Recently, the city government has also purchased 2,500 testing kits from South Korea using the P5.5 million worth of cash donations from Ilonggo businessmen.

The city will also receive 1,000 rapid test kits as donations from President Rodrigo Duterte, the mayor added.

The city government has started rolling out its mass testing on Monday wherein 55 individuals have been tested.