City and health officials said the fight against COVID-19 has become stronger, with the opening of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH)- Bacolod City BSL3 (Bio-safety Level 3) over the weekend.
Speaking at the inauguration of the CLMMRH-Bacolod City Biolab, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said, “This biolab, which we have long waited for, is now a reality. This is definitely a scientific and more effective way to fight COVID-19.”
“This means we can do more testings and expect a speedy release of results; therefore, we can do contact-tracing as soon as possible in order to contain the virus,”Leonardia added.
“Let us look forward to a stronger fight against COVID,” the mayor added.
Leonardia also underscored the protocols of “test, trace, and treat” in the fight against COVID-19. “The starting point, therefore, is testing. Here today, we have one of the answers to these three basic protocols on what we are supposed to do.”
Dr. Julius Drilon, medical center chief of the CLMMRH, said that this biolab is the first hospital-based Level 3 biolab in the Philippines.
Drilon said the biolab cost almost ₱30 million for building renovation and the equipment. The Bacolod City Government appropriated ₱20 million, ₱14.7 million of which was for the renovation of the building and the rest for a starter supply of consumables (test kits, extraction kits, reagents, etc.). For its part, CLMMRH spent about ₱15 million for the equipment and another ₱2 million for similar consumables.
Dr. Marlyn Convocar, regional director of the Department of Health in Western Visayas (DOH-6), in her message at the inauguration, thanked Mayor Leonardia for this partnership.
“This is the first time that an LGU assisted the DOH in setting up a molecular laboratory,” she said.
Convocar further said the CLMMRH-Bacolod City Biolab is the 78th biolab nationwide; 4th in Western Visayas; and 2nd in Negros Occidental.
It is one of only three Level 3-biosafety laboratories in the country, and the first outside Metro Manila; the other two, being the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), and UP National Institutes of Health, she added.
“₱20 million (from the Bacolod LGU) is really commendable as this was not included in the budget of DOH. We did not anticipate COVID in our 2019 plan and even in our GAA,” she added.
Drilon said their biolab can perform 100 tests per day at the start, with a turnaround time of 72 hours or three days.
Bacolod City Lone District Representative Greg Gasataya, who also graced the inauguration, said the strong partnership of the City and CLMMRH made the biolab a reality.
Gasataya promised to support the request for additional funding for the CLMMRH-Bacolod City Biolab.
Meanwhile, he added that his office was already able to facilitate ₱15 million as medical assistance to Bacolod residents that will be allocated to CLMMRH, with another ₱20 million in August.
Leonardia, Gasataya, Convocar, and Drilon led the ribbon-cutting ceremony and unveiling of the marker to officially open the CLMMRH-Bacolod City Biolab.
COLLECTIVE EFFORTS
Leonardia stressed that when COVID hit the country, LGUs had no template on how to respond to it, this being the first time that such health emergency in pandemic proportions was experienced in the country.
But thanks to the collaborative efforts of our city officials, the number of COVID cases in Bacolod is still manageable, despite the fact that Bacolod is the most populous city in Western Visayas, the mayor said.
The mayor thanked the Sangguniang Panlungsod, led by Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, for approving the allocation of ₱20 million for the biolab.
“But it doesn’t mean the game is over, the fight is still on,” he added.
OPERATIONS
Convocar said the opening of more biolabs in Negros Occidenal would mean reducing the turnaround time of specimen collection and examination.
The latest data that we have in our region is that specimens coming into our laboratory [Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City] have a turnaround time of three to 10 days, she said.
Imagine the time spent by those in quarantine where they have to stay in the quarantine area in the next 10 days before they can go home, she added.
Convocar also commended Drilon for setting aside ₱15 million of CLMMRH funds to set up the biolab. She said the DOH-6 will assist in the operational expenses of the laboratory, with an initial commitment of P5 million.
From the experience of other biolaboratories, they are spending more than ₱68 million a month to run it, she said.
Drilon said the biolab is the “third phase of our COVID response. We divided our preparation in three phases, and this is the first.”
“Our preparations actually started on the first week of February. I personally talked to our officers of the DOH that we need a laboratory that will help us identify SARS- COVID 2, in order for us to better respond and better plan our treatment protocol and responses in the city.”
“But our dreams and efforts will not materialize without the active support and assistance of many people, particularly in Bacolod City. Mayor Bing, madamo gid nga salamat because you initiated all of this,” Drilon added.
“Mayor Bing and I have been in constant communication since the formulation up to the completion of this facility, thru the efforts of the City of Bacolod and the leaders of our city,” he said.
“What was once just a long-term goal and dream is now here and serving the people,” Drilon added.
GUESTS
Also attending the ceremonies were First Lady Elsa Leonardia, daughter Loren Kara Leonardia, Councilor Renecito Novero, City Administrator Em Ang, and Don Salvador Benedicto Mayor Laurence Marxlen Dela Cruz.
Also joining them were DOH-6 Infectious Diseases head Dr. Jane Juanico, DOH-6 development management officers Dr. Jules Bonilla and Ben Arnel Dela Cruz, Dr. Jorge Marlon Tabligan, chief of Medical Professional Staff of CLMMRH, hospital chaplain Fr. Reman Cornel, and the hospitals doctors and department heads.
Also in attendance was bio-medical engineer Rane Joseph Saril, who designed the city’s two Swab Mobiles that was initiated by Kara Leonardia. Saril also served as a consultant in the CLMMRH- Bacolod City Biolab project.*/CITY PIO
CAPTION:
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, DOH-6 regional director Dr. Marlyn Convocar, and CLMMRH medical center chief Dr. Julius Drilon cut the ribbon and unveiled the marker to officially open the CLMMRH- Bacolod City BSL3 (Bio-safety Level 3) Molecular Laboratory Saturday [July 11].*/CITY PIO