Officials of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases on Tuesday described the Philippine Red Cross’ (PRC’s) COVID testing center as a game-changer that would revolutionize the country’s health system.
During Tuesday’s formal inauguration of the PRC’s second molecular laboratory, IATF officials, led by Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, the task force’s chairman thanked the Philippine Red Cross, under the leadership of Senator Richard J. Gordon, for the gargantuan undertaking.
Duque, who was impressed when he visited the laboratory just before the ceremony, said it was the most state-of-the-art that he had seen so far and a life-line for the government’s efforts.
“I convey my warmest congratulations to the Philippine Red Cross for the launching and the inauguration of one of the many first PCR Laboratory Testing Centers that will soon be serving not just NCR but the whole country, because part of the plan of Chairman Gordon is to open rampant testing centers all over the country. I would consider that it’s indeed a life line. A life line to the government’s almost desperate effort to really raise our testing capacity, cognizant of the fact that testing remains to be a corner stone in the national governments effort to respond to the pandemic CoVID-19,” he said, adding that the DOH could always rely on the PRC’s support on their efforts on health emergencies.
For his part, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano described the facility as a game-changer, adding that the PRC handed them with the “ultimate weapon,” which would ensure victory over the virus.
“First of all, I would like to thank the Philippine Red Cross and Senator Richard Gordon for this wonderful, we call it, weapon, our ULTIMATE WEAPON because I always consider fighting COVID virus like a military man fighting in a war…With this view front capability, the weapons now, and the leaders, the warriors, have met. (Referring to meeting with Metro Manila mayors) With this capability that is shared to us by the Red Cross, I think half of the battle is already won. And we are confident that we will succeed. Together, I believe we will win this fight,” he said.
Likewise, IATF Spokesperson Karlo Nograles and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also reiterated that the PRC’s COVID testing center is a game changer. (Press Release)
