Iloilo City Seeks DOH Nod for Local Mpox Testing

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Iloilo City government has appealed to the Department of Health (DOH) to authorize its Uswag Molecular Laboratory to conduct local testing for mpox amid rising confirmed cases.

Mayor Jerry Treñas said the city has been prepared for mpox testing since 2022, when the country recorded its first case.

He said the laboratory already has trained personnel and necessary equipment and only needs test kits from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila.

“Considering that we are trained and have the necessary personnel, as long as we have the kits, we can test for the whole of Panay if necessary,” Treñas said on Tuesday, June 3.

Located in Barangay San Pedro, Molo district, the Uswag Molecular Laboratory was inaugurated in 2022 and was initially used for COVID-19 testing.

It is one of the largest laboratories of its kind in the country and is accredited by both the DOH and RITM as a Level 2 biosafety facility.

Treñas noted that during the early stages of the mpox outbreak, RITM’s results were released within three to five days, but the current surge in cases has extended the turnaround time to several weeks.

He stressed that local testing would help governments respond faster and implement immediate containment measures.

“If the results take time, suspected individuals can continue interacting with others and spreading the virus,” he said.

Treñas added that, with approval, Iloilo City could extend its testing services to nearby provinces across Panay Island.

“We recognize this as a threat. We should understand what it is, which is why I have requested our task force to continue holding briefings,” he said.

On confidentiality, Treñas clarified that the city cannot disclose personal information—such as age or location—about infected individuals, in accordance with DOH protocols.

“While health services have been devolved to local governments, we still follow DOH protocols,” he said.

“Unless we find them incompetent, we follow the national guidelines.”

As of June 2, Iloilo City has four confirmed and two suspected mpox cases.

Meanwhile, the City Health Office (CHO) has intensified its public education campaign targeting high-risk groups, especially sex workers.

“We will gather sex workers and schedule them for orientation to enforce strict preventive measures,” said CHO head Dr. Mary Ann Poli-Diaz.

“One of the measures is avoiding sexual contact with infected individuals.”

Mpox can be transmitted through sexual contact, especially close, intimate physical interaction.

The virus spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact with mpox rashes or scabs, bodily fluids, or lesions around the anus, rectum, or vagina.

It can also be transmitted during oral, anal, or vaginal sex, and through touching the genitals or anus of an infected person.