Marikina City unveils new site for its COVID-19 testing center

MANILA, Philippines — The city government of Marikina revealed Monday the new location for its proposed COVID-19 testing center.

This came after the Department of Health (DOH) disapproved of the city government’s initial proposal to convert the sixth floor of the Marikina City Health Office (CHO) into a testing center for the coronavirus disease.

DOH earlier rejected Marikina City’s proposed COVID-19 testing center, citing that the local government unit’s original location did not pass the standard as it must be in a separate location and facility.

Apparently not giving up on his initiative, Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said that the new site of their COVID-19 testing center is a two-story building located at Bayan-Bayanan Avenue, Barangay Concepcion Uno.

“Ito, this is a freestanding structure. Hindi populated ‘yung area, accessible. It is located along the main avenue in Marikina. In terms of location, mukha ito ang ‘suitable’ na sinasabi nila,” Teodoro said.

(This is a freestanding structure. The area is not populated, but accessible. It is located along the main avenue in Marikina. In terms of location, it looks like this is the ‘suitable’ they are looking for.)

“Walang kasamang ibang opisina, walang ibang kasamang clinic. Ang narito lang ay ang laboratory. Kaya ang tao lang makikita rito at ang mga pathologists, medical technologists, at lab technicians,” he added.

(There are no other offices and clinic in the building. Only the laboratory would be here. That’s why the only people you will see here are the pathologists, medical technologists, and laboratory technicians.)

A dedicated ambulance is also on standby solely for the testing center, Teodoro further said.

Teodoro also assured that the local government followed the risk assessment template and strictly implemented the protocol of biohazard measures.

“Mayroon tayong risk assessment template na sinunod of highest standard and strict adherence to the protocol of biohazard measures ang pinapa-implement natin dito (We have a risk assessment template that we followed of highest standards. We also have a strict adherence to the protocol of biohazard measures that we are implementing here),” the mayor stressed.

“Hindi lang doon sa in terms of trained personnel na mayroon tayo, hindi lang ‘yung work process kundi pati ang layout ng laboratory ay sumusunod doon sa biohazard safety (Not just in terms of trained personnel that we have here as well as a work process. But the layout of the laboratory is also in adherence to the biohazard safety protocol),” he added.

Marikina City’s Engineering Office chief Kennedy Sueno said they target to complete the COVID-19 testing center in two weeks.

As of Monday afternoon, DOH said there are now 1,546 people in the country who have COVID-19.

KGA