Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano (center) and Taguig Rep. Lani Cayetano (left) lead the launching of the drive-thru coronavirus testing services in a testing facility set up in Bonifacio Global City in Barangay Fort Bonifacio. Photo from Taguig LGU Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines — Taguig City has so far conducted 18,503 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for the coronavirus disease 2019 since the outbreak in January, Mayor Lino Cayetano said on Tuesday.
Cayetano said this figure, as of July 12, comprises 2.31 percent of the total population in Taguig, which follows the target of the national government to test 1.5 to 2 percent of the total population in the country for COVID-19.
“We are happy to report that we are now at 2.31 percent. We have conducted 18,000 tests,” the Taguig mayor said in a press briefing.
“We commit, Sec. Vince, Sec. Charlie, to your goal of 10 percent by the end of the year. We will continue to be aggressive,” Cayetano added, referring to National Action Plan against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vince Dizon and National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said the government is eyeing to test up to 10 percent of the population in Metro Manila.
So far, Taguig City can conduct up to 2,000 tests daily for COVID-19 with the establishment of a national testing facility at the Enderun Colleges in Bonifacio Global City.
Cayetano said Taguig’s “secret” in efficient testing is its facilities’ capability in conducting tests for coronavirus patients. Aside from other testing sites in Taguig, he said that all 31 health centers in the city can conduct COVID-19 tests.