Siquijor, DOH-7 receive rt-PCR machines

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – Siquijor Province and the Department of Health (DOH-7) received one each of the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) machine donated by the Cristina Lee Dino Foundation (CLDF) through the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) that is expected to speed-up the testing capacity for COVID-19 in Central Visayas.

The donation is in response to the request of Siquijor Governor Zaldy Villa in an episode of Mugstoria Ta, an online conversation with OPAV Assistant Secretary Jonji Gonzales.  Villa said that Siquijor needs a testing laboratory for them to start accepting tourists. “Tourism is a major contributor to the economy of the province,” he added.

Both rt-PCR testing machines were formally turned over at the new Visayas COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center, Oakridge, Mandaue City on March 1 with Asec. Gonzales, IATF-Visayas Chief Implementer Ret. MGen. Mel Feliciano and wife Mia Feliciano, DOH-7 chief pathologist Dr. Mary Jean Loreche and other DOH-7 officials.

The rt-PCR machine donated for Siquijor will be situated at its first Siquijor Molecular Laboratory.

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-7) that the construction of the molecular laboratory for Siquijor will be completed in two months.

However, it will take another two to three months before the laboratory could start operations because medical technologists will have to be trained first. Also, the Siquijor provincial government must purchase the biosafety cabinet that will be used in the molecular laboratory.

Meanwhile, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino encouraged everyone to avail of the COVID-19 vaccines in support to the continued efforts of the government in the fight against COVID-19.

According to him that the national government aims to vaccinate 70 percent of the population to achieve herd immunity in line with the guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO). (Photos: OPAV)