Iloilo to expect COVID-19 testing through the Western Visayas Medical Center sub-national laboratory by end of March.
Two medical technologists and four support staff from WVSU and WVMC will be flown to Manila to undergo a three-day training and proficiency testing at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) tomorrow, March 22, 2020.
UPV Professor Dr. Noel Ferriols of the Philippine Genome Center-UPV, Balik Scientists from the University of San Agustin (USA) and Biosafety Officers from the Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas are at the helm of the team assessing the capacities of the Western Visayas Medical Center’s facilities and technicians for compliance and accreditation by the Department of Health.
The task force closely coordinates with Mayor Jerry Trenas and Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, focal person on COVID-19 Iloilo City.
Other key figures behind this initiative are UPV Chancellor Ricardo Babaran, Father President Frederick Comendador of USA and Dr. Joselito Villaruz of WVSU who have given approval for the use of their universities' Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (rtPCR) machines, Don Alfonso Tan of IBC for allowing use of his plane in transporting the laboratory personnel who will go on training, Metro Iloilo Hospital for purchasing biosafety equipment in support of Iloilo COVID-19 testing and Jane Javellana, Presidential Consultant for Western Visayas, Office of the President for securing clearances and liaising with government agencies.
UPAA Iloilo, IAmUPHi, UP Silak Brotherhood, Rear Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo of the Philippine Navy, Former PPP head Cosette Canilao, Atty. Nick Lutero of DOH, Office of Civil Defense and the Department of Health Region VI are also behind this endeavor.
