First district representative Edgar Chatto says the plan for a molecular lab is something he initiated in partnership with various health officials.
He bared this during an interview over “Newsmakers ug Uban Pa” early afternoon of , Thursday, May 21.
He made the suggestion to have a laboratory in Bohol in order to realize the need to test the people, especially during this crisis we are in, as a measure to know who are the ones that need treatment and those who can be allowed to return to work.
The idea of the national lab in the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) in Tagbilaran came about since the GCGMH facility in Cortes is yet to start.
The sub national lab here is supposed to be placed in the proposed extension site of the GCGMH located in Cortes town.
However, the laboratory’s construction is aligned with the GCGMH site in Cortes, Chatto said.
Chatto said the plan to have a GCGMH site in Cortes was hatched during his tenure as governor of Bohol.
He said that since the lab in Cortes will take time, Chatto suggested to GCGMH chief of hospital Dr. Mutya Kismet Macuno and to Department of Health (DoH) regional director Jaime Bernadas to put a laboratory in the current site of the hospital in Tagbilaran instead.
Chatto said the plan for a molecular lab inside the GCGMH is backed by the provincial government.
For Chatto, it is not important whose idea it is to put up a laboratory. What is important is for people to work towards the realization of something that can benefit a huge number of residents in Bohol.
Reports said, that the molecular lab in the GCGMH is being eyed to start operation by the end of June this year.
The Bohol Tribune conducted an informal survey asking the people if they are in favor of having a molecular lab.
Most of the respondents are in favor of having a laboratory here.
The responses are captured and featured in the Vox Populi section on page 9 and 21.