Guimaras buys almost P9M worth of COVID-19 test kits

The province of Guimaras has procured 4,000 COVID-19 test kits as it plans to conduct targeted testing for the disease.

The test kits include 1,000 rapid antibody test kits worth P850,000.

Guimaras also purchased 3,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits that cost P7.95 million.

Governor Samuel T. Gumarin said that with the procurement of testing kits, Guimaras has gained additional armor in battling the pandemic.

“May test kits na kita. Labi sini napabaskog ang aton away batok sa COVID-19. Mahimo na kita magpatigayon sang testing because we have our own resources,” Gumarin said.

The frontliners deployed to the ports of entry to the province will be prioritized for testing.

He added that returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and anyone who will show symptoms of the disease will be tested.

The PCR test kits brought by the province are manufactured by South Korea.

Guimaras Lone District Representative Ma. Lucille L. Nava negotiated an agreement with the Western Visayas Medical Center where the PCR test kits will be stored as the province cannot store the kits in –25 degrees temperature.

Gumarin said that the fund used to acquire the testing kits was from the Bayanihan Grant to Provinces, the one-time financial assistance of the national government to the provinces in their fights against the health crisis.

Guimaras received Php 28,771,128 from the national government.