The testing capabilities of Bohol gets a strong boost as the containerized polymerase (PCR) laboratory procured by the provincial government is already here, according to the Capitol Media Source.
According to Provincial Administrator Kathyrin Pioquinto, the containerized PCR laboratory that arrived here on Friday evening from Manila, will be based at the location of the Bohol Medical Care Inc. in barangay Dao, Tagbilaran City.
Earlier reports said that the containerized PCR laboratory will be tested for a week before it will be declared fully operational.
Back on June 12, 2020, the governor revealed that the province is acquiring a containerized PCR laboratory that will complement the molecular lab inside the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH).
The governor also said that the new containerized PCR laboratory, which is a mobile laboratory, will help boost Bohol’s testing capabilities and with it, the province will no longer rely much on the sub-national laboratory located at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center based in Cebu City.
The containerized PCR laboratory is important as the province has “targeted ingresses and egresses” through the Bohol’s major seaport and the Bohol Panglao International Airport (BPIA).
The Bohol Tribune asked the governor about the cost of one set of containerized PCR laboratory. The governor said, the cost is a little over P20 million, including freight and applicable taxes.
The containerized PCR laboratory is a set consisting of one 40-foot containerized lab and a 20-foot containerized lab that go together, the governor told The Bohol Tribune.
Additionally, the governor said that the containerized PCR lab will operate for 24 hours with a daily output capacity of 300 test results.
The main advantage of the containerized PCR lab is that it is mobile, the governor explained.
The governor emphasized in a number of occasions before, that testing capability and contact tracing system are the keys that will unlock Bohol to visitors and restart the tourism industry.
In an interaction with Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) chief Sec. Martin Andanar on June 19, 2020, Yap said that there are two (2) things that are needed to happen to re-open the tourism industry. Visitors need to be confident that they will not get infected and the local residents are confident that the visitors will not be bringing the virus into Bohol. This can only be achieved with having testing capability and a contact tracing system.
NO MASS TESTING POLICY IN BOHOL
Yap also bared that currently, the province does not have any policy direction towards conducting mass testing for Covid infection involving the general populace in Bohol.
The statement came as the containerized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) laboratory ordered by the provincial government arrived from Manila. Yap, during the media briefing on Friday, July 17, 2020, said the province is more focused on testing those who are symptomatic or severely afflicted with respiratory ailments.
“Even in the national mass testing activities, it (mass testing) is not encouraged at this time. It used to be the national government having a target of 30,000 tests a day. Apparently, they (the national government) had to pull back from that policy. Maybe, we can take a cue from the national (government) ug istudyohan ug maayo kon kinahanglan ba nga mag mass testing kita dire sa Bohol. Pero sa pagkakaron, wala tay polisiya nga pag-abot sa atong PCR lab, mag mass testing dire sa Bohol. Tan-awon nato. Let us study it. I don’t want to answer it with definitiveness na dili na mag mass testing. At this time, we will first prioritize, especially those who are severely affected, (severe acute respiratory infection) SARI and (moderate acute respiratory infection) MARI,” the governor said during the press briefing.
The national government announced back in May 2020, that is up to the private sector to conduct mass testing as the government has no plans to carry out mass testing to determine the extent of the Covid infection in the country.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said, in a report by CNN Philippines, that the national government is not looking to replicate what the local government of Wuhan, China had done where 11 million of its residents were subjected to mass testing.
There are protocols in place where persons are subjected to PCR tests or rapid antibody tests (RAT) especially among those who are repatriated back here in the province, the Bohol Tribune was told.