Manila realigns P40-M budget to augment free COVID-19 mass testing

Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has realigned P40 million of the city government’s budget to strengthen its mass testing for the new coronavirus disease.

Moreno signed Ordinance No. 8657, which orders the budgetary realignment of P40 million from 20 percent of the City’s Development Fund to buy more medical supplies for the city’s mass testing efforts.

“This is part of our continuous efforts in sustaining and strengthening our health services in our own little way for the peace of mind of our people. This effort makes COVID-19 testing accessible, efficient and free for all,” the Mayor said in a statement.

Under the ordinance, about P20 million were allocated for procurement of testing reagents and P10 million for sustaining and operating expenses of COVID-19 laboratories, and P10 million for medical equipment.

The city government has opened four free COVID-19 testing centers for  residents and non-residents in Manila. Of which, two are drive-thru testing centers and walk-in testing facilities.

Recently, the local government rolled out mobile testing centers that will be deployed in every two barangays daily to maximize community-based testing.

The local government used serology testing machines which have an accuracy of 99.6 percent and 100 percent for sensitivity.

Data from the Manila Public Information office showed that the city government’s four serology testing machines processed more than 89,000 tests per month.

JPV