This November 2020 photo shows the inauguration of the PNP’s molecular laboratory at the Camp Sotero Cabahug in Cebu City.
CEBU CITY, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced that its molecular laboratory at Camp Sotero Cabahug in Cebu City has been given clearance to start testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In a statement dated March 17, 2021, the PNP said the Department of Health (DOH) has granted them license to operate its molecular laboratory in Cebu City.
“We are glad to inform the public that the PNP Regional Health Service 7 Molecular Laboratory to be used for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) testing of police personnel has been given by the Department of Health (DOH) a clearance to operate today after finalizing the necessary permits and the training of the PNP medical personnel who will operate the facility,” said Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, officer-in-charge of PNP.
Eleazar, in the same press release, said the COVID-19 testing facility in Cebu City will process swab samples from all police officers in the entire Visayas area.
He also said it can accommodate between 80 to 120 tests per day, done through real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques.
“With this great development, our PNP-Health Service is in close coordination with the PNP- Directorate for Comptrollership for the purchase of reagents and supplies needed by the Regional Health Service (Central Visayas) Molecular Laboratory so that it can finally takeoff full well in serving its principal clients, our police personnel,” he added.
PNP’s molecular laboratory in Camp Sotero Cabahug, where the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is based, is their only COVID-19 testing lab outside Metro Manila so far.
Construction of the P10-million facility, whose budget came from Camp Crame, began last June 2020. It was completed and inaugurated in November 2020.
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/bmjo