The province and its cities have unified to strengthen Davao Region’s capacity in diagnosing COVID-19 cases by establishing the first “COVID-19 Testing Facility” in the province as a “rapid medical and public health response” to the COVID19 outbreak in Davao Region.
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) establishing the COVID19 testing facility was signed yesterday, May 19, at the Tahanan ng Lalawigan, Provincial Government Center, Tagum City.
This facility is seen to help “decongest” Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), the only subnational referral center currently operating in Mindanao, said Provincial Governor Edwin I. Jubahib.
According to Article I of the signed MOA, the testing facility will be established at the Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) in Tagum city, Davao del Norte.
It will be used to “test persons” suspected of COVID-19, frontline workers, and other individuals needing a test for COVID19.
The services of the facility can be extended to nearby provinces, “even outside Davao Region”.
Dr. Lyre Anni Murao, UP-Mindanao Professor of Virology and Director of Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Mindanao, stated that the facility can be used to address other “emerging infectious diseases” in the future after the prioritized COVID19 pandemic ends.
UP-Mindanao Philippine Genome Center (PGC) extends its technical expertise in setting up the COVID-19 testing facility in Tagum, Davao del Norte that will be operated by DRMC according to the accreditation standards of Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and the Department of Health (DOH).
With a budget of 12 million pesos financed together by the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte, City Government of Tagum, City Government of Island Garden City of Samal, and City Government of Panabo, the establishment of the testing facility is targeted to finish by the month of June.
Governor Jubahib along with Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon, DRMC medical center chief Dr. Bryan Dalid, UP-Mindanao Chancellor Dr. Larry Digal, and CEO of Maer Summit Konstrukt Company (MSKC) Diego Luis Suelto signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last May 19, 2020. (Jan Vincent Leuterio/PIA XI)