TAGUM CITY — The Davao del Norte Provincial Government will be putting up a coronavirus disease (Covid-19) diagnostic laboratory at the Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) here.
The P12-million project is in partnership with the local governments of Tagum City, Panabo City, and the Island Garden of Samal and in collaboration with DRMC and the University of the Philippines (UP) – Mindanao.
Governor Edwin Jubahib led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Tuesday, May 19.
Other officials on hand to sign the MOA were Tagum Mayor Allan Rellon, DRMC director Dr. Bryan Dalid, UP-Mindanao chancellor Dr. Larry Digal, and Maer Summit Konstrukt Co. (MSKC) chief executive officer Diego Luis Suelto.
Governor Jubahib said the Covid-19 testing laboratory is targeted to be completed next month.
The governor said this facility will complement the testing capability of the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.
“This diagnostic laboratory will increase our capacity to respond and diagnose Covid-19 cases not just in the province but in the entire Davao Region,” Jubahib said.
The facility will be using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) detection system, which is designed for coronavirus infection in accordance with the standards and protocols of the World Health Organization.
The laboratory will be constructed by MSKC, which will also donate the RTPCR machine.
Dr. Lyre Anni Murao, UP-Mindanao virology professor and Philippine Genome Center – Mindanao director, said the facility will also be used for research on emerging infectious diseases. (LBG)
