ILOILO City – The provincial government of Guimaras has spent P8.8 million to purchase 4,000 test kits in the continuing fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Guimaras bought 1,000 rapid test kits worth P850,000 and 3,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits manufactured in South Korea worth P7,950,000
The budget came from some P28,771,128 the island province received under the Bayanihan Grant to Provinces, a one-time financial assistance from the national government.
According to the press report of Guimaras’ public information and relations unit (PIRU), the PCR test kits will be stored at the Western Visayas Medical Center in this city. The island province does not have the capacity to stock the kits at 25 degrees temperature.
For his part, Gov. Samuel Gumarin said in the press report that with the procurement of the testing kits, Guimaras can now start their own testing.
The ones that will be prioritized in the mass testing are: frontliners, repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and returning stranded local individuals.
On the other hand, Guimaras’ provincial government has also converted the Halfway House and Livelihood Training Center (HHLTC) of the Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) as facility for OFWs and returning residents who will observe their 14-day mandatory quarantine.
The facility, located in Barangay Lanipe, Nueva Valencia, was constructed as temporary shelter for the clients of the PPA who do not have homes or immediate families to return to after the termination of their probation or parole period.
Since PPA did not utilize the center yet, it did not hesitate letting the province use it for quarantine purposes, Gumarin said in a PIRU press report.
There are currently three seafarers undergoing isolation there.
Gumarin has issued Executive Order No. 45, adopting the guidelines in the entry of repatriated and returning residents where they will be subjected to mandatory quarantine protocol. While the repatriates are isolated the provincial government will provide their needs.
As of this writing, Guimaras remains free from COVID-19.(With a report from PIA/PN)
