Manila City opens 2nd drive-thru COVID-19 testing center at Quirino Grandstand

Manila’s second drive-thru COVID-19 testing center opens in Quirino Grandstand. /Manila Public Information Office

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila City government has launched its second drive-thru COVID-19 testing center, which can conduct 700 tests for non-residents and residents, at Quirino Grandstand.

In an interview with reporters at the soft opening of the facility, Manila City Mayor Franciso “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said the testing center will be operational from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. He also said the test in this facility is for free.

According to Moreno, the drive-thru testing center will collect blood samples that will be processed by three serology testing machines.

The mayor said the drive-thru testing center can test more individuals once the local government purchases more serology machines.

“Kapag may additional na makina kami on top of the three existing (serology machines), dadagdagan naming ‘yung volume ng testing,” Moreno said.

(If we get additional machines on top of the three existing ones, the volume of testing will be increased.)

Currently, the Manila Public Information Office (PIO) said the three existing serology testing machines are in Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Ospital ng Sampaloc, and Ospital ng Maynila.

Another machine is expected to be placed at Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital, the Manila PIO also said.

In a previous report, the local government revealed that the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) approved their proposal to establish another drive-thru testing facility in Quirino Grandstand. NPDC supervises Rizal Park where Quirino Grandstand is located.

KGA