LGU-Pangasinan prepares for the establishment of COVID-19 molecular lab
It’s all systems go for the upcoming establishment of the province’s own molecular laboratory which will be established inside the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (PPH) compound.
Provincial Engineer Antonietta Delos Santos said in an interview on May 27 that the existing old emergency room located at the PPH which will be converted into COVID-19 molecular laboratory, has a dimension of 15.9 meters x 9.8 meters.
The physical plan, she said, is based on the reference plan/design of the Department of Health (DOH). “This is just conversion kasi may existing building na so minimal na lang ang gagawin for improvement works,” the provincial engineer added.
Hence, she noted that the plan was already handed to the Provincial Health Office (PHO) in which the latter took charge of the submission to the health department for their review.
“Before we go on to the final preparation of cost estimate binigay namin sa PHO at nakicoordinate po sila sa DOH for the checking. After their evaluation ipa-finalize na po naming yung design then iaaply for the Permit to Construct ng DOH,” Engr. Delos Santos explained.
Meanwhile, the provincial engineer said that the provincial government is expecting that the reviewed plan will arrive this week and finalization of cost estimate will take off next week in preparation for the application for PTC to be granted by the health department.
It can be recalled that Governor Amado I. Espino III came up with the marching order for the establishment of the province’s own molecular laboratory to hasten results of oropharyngeal swab testing. Test results usually take around 10 days after swab test since it has to pass through the Regional Epediomologic Surveillance Unit first before handing it to the province.
Earlier, Provincial Health Officer Anna Ma. Teresa De Guzman disclosed that the provincial government has already procured an automated PCR machine and some re-agents and purchased some 4,000 oral transport medium which are being utilized for oropharyngeal swab that are being sent to the Baguio General Hospital (BGH), province’s molecular laboratory partner.
She likewise said that the provincial government is slated to send six medical technologists to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for rigid training. Said personnel will man the molecular laboratory. (Ruby R. Bernardino / Photo by Jin Perez)
