ILOILO City – Mayor Eugenio Reyes of Buenavista and Mayor Ruben Corpuz of Jordan are questioning the rapid test that the provincial government of Guimaras would be subjecting those entering the island province beginning Oct. 5.
They said the Department of Health (DOH) is not recommending rapid tests for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) because these produce false positive and false negative results.
Rapid tests would just sow confusion and more problems for Guimaras, warned Reyes and Corpuz.
They would challenge the provincial government’s move before the regional inter-agency task force on COVID-19.
Corpuz said it would be better to subject people to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test which DOH considers the “gold standard” in COVID-19 testing.
Yesterday, the League of Municipality of the Philippines – Guimaras chapter composed of the mayors of Buenavista, Jordan, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo, and Sibunag discussed the provincial government’s rapid test plan.
Vice Gov. John Edward Gando defended the planned rapid test.
“Ang gwa ‘ya ‘ni is surveillance protocol sang provincial government. Ma-monitor [naton] ang sin-o man nga nagagwa kag sulod sa Guimaras nga naga-develop sang anti-bodies. Indi gold standard [ang rapid test] but at least mas maayo na sang sa wala,” Gando told Panay News.
Also covered by the test are employees of government offices and those from the private sector such as those who perform basic services.
Guimaras residents who stayed in Iloilo City for two nights will also be tested.
“[Kun] ikaw taga-Guimaras nga naga-obra sa Iloilo City kag nagapauli kaw kada adlaw diri sa probinsya ukon bisan three times a week, dapat makapaidalom kaw sa rapid test,” explained Gando. “Kon makaisa ka man lang ka beses naggwa kag sulod sa Guimaras sa sulod sang isa ka semana, indi ka na pag-require magpa-rapid test.”
The rapid test is free.
Those who test positive for COVID-19 would be subjected to a confirmatory RT-PCR test.
“Kon ikaw from Iloilo City kag pagsulod mo sa puerto nag-positive ka, you will be denied entry,” said Gando./PN
