EDC, DoH-CHD Bicol help expand Covid-testing capabilities
AS of September, more than 1,700 Covid-19 cases were reported in the Bicol region, according to Department of Health - Center for Health and Development (DoH-CHD) Bicol Regional Director ernie Vera. The lack of proper equipment and facilities has affected the province’s efforts to control the spread of the virus.
with that, the Lopez-led energy Development Corporation (eDC) refocused its Covid-19 resiliency efforts in its host communities in Bicol toward initiatives that will enhance local mass testing capabilities. Through a partnership with the DoH-CHD Bicol, eDC donated P4.2 million to fund the expansion and refurbishment of the health center’s building and Covid-testing laboratory, which is one of only two in the Bicol region, accredited by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.
The partnership between eDC and DoH-CHD Bicol was formalized with a virtual signing ceremony of the memorandum of agreement and deed of donation between DoH-CHD Bicol, led by Dr. Vera, Assistant Regional Director Ferchito Avelino, Chief of the Management Support Division norberto Balane Jr. and Cluster Head for Infectious and Communicable Disease Jannish Alcala Arellano; and eDC, led by Senior Vice President and Officer in Charge of Facilities, Operations and Maintenance Group Liberato Virata, Assistant Vice President and Corporate Support
Functions Head Regina Victoria Pascua, Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Relations Head Allan Barcena; and Bacon-Manito
( BacMan) Geothermal Facility Head Marcel Rosario and BacMan Corporate Social Responsibility Head eduardo Jimenez.