Exec asks private firms to test employees versus Covid-19

CLARK FREEPORT--A top official of the national government has urged private companies to have their employees returning to work tested for COVID-19.

National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon made the statement on Friday, July 3.

Dizon also said that expanding testing protocols will help build confidence as businesses reopen to get the economy moving.

"Kailangan natin ang expanded testing para sa pagbuild ng kompyansa sa ating ekonomiya… China-challenge natin ang lahat ng private sector companies, lalo na yung malalaking kompanya na gawin na ang nagawa ng San Miguel na magkaroon ng sariling lab at mas importante i-test ang kanilang mga empleyado para tumaas ang kompyansa at magsimula na tayo ulit," Dizon said.

Dizon earlier recommended to expand COVID19 testing to non-medical frontliners working in transport and logistics, security and sanitation, education, media, retail, food, and services, as well as to employees returning to their respective workplace, even those who are asymptomatic.

"Dati, ang priority lamang ay yung mga may sintomas at yung mga may direct contact sa may mga symptoms. Noong una kasi kulang na kulang tayo sa kapasidad, iilan lang ang labs; pero ngayon, marami na ang labs, marami na ang capacity at dumadating na ang mga supply natin," Dizon sai d.

Dizon and National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., attended the inauguration of the San Miguel Foundation Testing Laboratory on July 3.

According to San Miguel President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang, the COVID19 testing facility can process up to 4,000 tests daily, and is still expandable to 12,000. He said the facility can process test results in just three hours.

The San Miguel laboratory is one of the total 74 accredited laboratories in the country as of July 1.

The COVID-19 national task force earlier said the government aims to conduct 10 million COVID-19 tests in the next 10 months.

(Chris Navarro) NO TEST, NO ENTRY. A personnel of the DPWH-Pampanga 2nd District Engineering Office guards the gate as visitors are required.to show their rapid Test and swab test before being allowed to enter the compound in Guagua, Pampanga. Strict safety and health protocols are being enforced in all DPWH district offices in Pampanga to ensure that the Coronavirus will not infect its personnel.