BENGUET Caretaker and ACT-CIS Partylist Representative Congressman Eric Go Yap was lauded by Baguio City officials for contributing to the fight against Covid-19.
“Expressing the sincerest gratitude of the people of Benguet, the Officialdom of the City Government of Baguio is expressing its gratitude to Benguet Caretaker and ACT-CIS Partylist Representative Congressman Eric Go Yap for allowing the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and automated extraction machines that he donated to the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) to be temporarily loaned to Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), that contributed in speeding up the release of Covid-19 test result by the designated sub-national testing center,” Resolution 359-2020 stated.
The resolution was authored by Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan approved by the members of Baguio City Council and Mayor Benjamin Magalong.
BGHMC is one of the first five sub-national testing laboratories accredited by the Department of Health to independently release Covid-19 test results, especially coming from the Northern Luzon area, to help the Manila-based Research Institute for Tropical Medicine at the start of the outbreak of the deadly virus in the country.
Last month, Yap donated to BeGH more than P5 million worth of anti-Covid-19 equipment that included an RT-PCR machine, automated extraction machines and its consumables to be used purposely for the establishment of the molecular laboratory in the said health facility.
Yap temporarily loaned the equipment to BGHMC for free use through a Memorandum of Agreement to speed up the release of swab test results coming from different parts of its service area in Northern Luzon. It resulted in a significant reduction in the period to release results to only three to four days.
Yap on June 10 also turned over assorted test kits that could produce some 10,000 tests that paved the way for the designated sub-national testing laboratory to further improve its testing capacity. It is now capable of conducting more or less 2,000 tests per day.
The ACT-CIS partylist representative in a statement on Tuesday thanked the City Government, stating as the legislative caretaker of Benguet, he is aware of the important role BGHMC plays in the ongoing fight against Covid-19.
He added all swab tests in Baguio City, Benguet, and other provinces of Northern Luzon, rely on the services and capabilities of the hospital.
“Alam po natin na hindi natin matatalo ang pandemic na ito kung mabagal at kakaunti ang bilang ng ating mga nate-test. Panahon na para hindi lang tayo dumepensa laban sa Covid-19. Kailangan natin na mas maging agresibo upang hanapin ang mga kasong ito at gamutin upang mailayo natin sa alanganin ang kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.
The official cited plans on the reestablishment of a molecular laboratory at BeGH in La Trinidad to assist in increasing and accelerating Covid testing in the Cordillera region.
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