MANILA, Philippines — The Caloocan City government and Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of agreement to undertake mass testing of persons who are likely carriers of the new virus that causes COVID-19.
“Mahalagang masimulan na ang mass testing sa ating lungsod upang makontrol ang virus at tuluyan nang maging COVID 19-free ang Caloocan,” Malapitan said in a statement.
(It is important to start the mass testing in our city to control the spread of the virus and make Caloocan a COVID-19 free environment.)
The agreement was signed between Malapitan and Senator Richard Gordon, who is chairman of PRC.
Under the pact, Malapitan allotted P5 million initial funding for the service fees of PRC, which was recently accredited by the Department of Health to conduct confirmatory testing of the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, which causes the respiratory illness COVID-19.
The memorandum also states that PRC will train personnel of the Caloocan City Health Department for swab tests of patients.