Health workers, gov’t employees called to volunteer in mega swabbing facilities

MANILA, Philippines — Health workers and government employees have been called to volunteer in mega swabbing facilities which are aimed at ramping up the country’s capacity for coronavirus testing.

Deputy chief implementer of the government’s coronavirus response Vince Dizon said Tuesday swabbers and encoders are needed in operating the new testing facilities.

“Nagtawag na po tayo ng tinatawag nating clarion call. Ito ay panawagan sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan lalong lalo na sa mga involved sa ating medical profession pati po ang nag aaral kasi nag tawag na po tayo sa ating mga universities, para iheed ang call para sa mga swabbers at iba pang mga magvovolunteer para po tulungan tayo dito sa ating napaka laking operation sa testing,” Dizon said in an online Palace briefing.

(We have made a clarion call to our countrymen, especially to medical professionals and medical students, to heed our call for swabbers and other volunteers in operating the facilities for testing.)

According to Dizon, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea has also called on government workers to volunteer in the facilities.

“Hindi lang kasi swabbers ang kailangan natin. Kailangan natin ng mga encoders, kailangan natin ng mga barcoders, kailangan natin ng iba’t ibang mga volunteers para po tumulong sa napakalaking operasyon na ito,” Dizon said.

(We do not only need swabbers but also we also need encoders and barcoders. We need volunteers to help in this massive operation.)

The government is setting up four “mega swabbing centers” in Philippine Arena, Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Enderun Colleges in Taguig City, and the Palacio de Maynila Tent in Roxas Boulevard.

This is to complement the target of conducting 30,000 tests a day by the end of May.

As of Monday, the Philippine confirmed 9,485 cases of COVID-19 with 623 fatalities and 1,315 recoveries.