Thanks Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo for Church’s help in gov’t’s fight against COVID-19
(Eagle News) – The Philippine government conducted its final inspection on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, of the mega swabbing center at the Philippine Sports Stadium inside the Ciudad de Victoria compound in Bocaue Bulacan.
Once operational, the mega-swabbing center can accommodate up to 1,500 swab tests per day, which will make it the biggest mega swabbing facility in the country. The facility currently has 96 booths inside six swabbing tents.
It is targeted to assist in collecting swab specimens so that testing efforts will increase in the Greater Metro Manila area. It will be manned by around 400 volunteers from various government agencies.
It is one of four mega centers targeting the north sector of National Capital Region (NCR) and also Bulacan and Pampanga which are all under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ).
There are also plans to construct a molecular laboratory in the area for COVID-19 tests, according to officials.
The national task force for COVID-19 led by Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., and deputy chair Vince Dizon led the inspection of the swabbing center at the Philippine Sports Stadium, which is beside the Philippine Arena.
Also present during the inspection were Senator Manny Pacquiao and Maligaya Development Corporation (MDC) chief operating officer Atty. Glicerio “GP” Santos IV.
Galvez said that the government is now overwhelmed with huge influx of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) repatriated to the county. The establishment of mega swabbing centers is a big help so that more of these OFWs can be tested, he said.
“Ito pong swabbing center na six tents at testing booth po nito ay napakalaking tulong sa ating gobyerno at ating mamamayan. Yung pasasalamat po ng ating Pangulo nung nag-report po ako sa kanya ay sinabi ko po na talagang ang ating mahal na Eduardo Manalo ay talagang tumutulong po sa ating mga OFWs,” he said.
Dizon said that there is an urgent need to do tests on the thousands of OFWs who have been repatriated. So far, more than 30,000 have returned to the country.
“Yung dagsa ng mga dami ng test lalo na nanggagaling sa OFW talagang mag- ko-cause ng konting congestion yun pero ngayon sinabi ni secretary Galvez minamadali na yun para yung mga OFW natin finally makauwi na,” he said.
He said that the country is now expanding its testing capacity, so that tests per day could be increased. The government targets to do 30,000 tests daily by end of May.
The government officials again thanked the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) for allowing the use of the Ciudad de Victoria compound, including the 20,000 seater Philippine Sports Stadium, as a mega swabbing facility.
“Nais ko lang pasalamatan ang Iglesia Ni Cristo, ang ating chief minister Eduardo V. Manalo. Napakabuti nyo po at alam po namin yung puso nyo ay nasa OFW being the special envoy of the OFWs. Marami po kayong natulungan” Galvez said.
“We cannot express how thankful we are to the Iglesia Ni Cristo led by Ka Eduardo Manalo. Alam nyo po ito pong Phil Arena is a model for how we set up the ‘end to end infrastructure’ ng test, trace, treat,” Dizon added.
Earlier, three mega tents had been constructed beside the Philippine Arena as “We Heal as One” quarantine center for suspected COVID-19 patients, including those exhibiting mild symptoms and the asymptomatic or those who have no symptoms.
Housing facilities have also been provided for health care workers and other front liners who will manage and treat the patients under quarantine and in isolation facilities.
There are currently more than 80 overseas Filipinos who had earlier been repatriated who are now in the said quarantine and isolation facilities inside Ciudad de Victoria.
(with a video report from Earlo Bringas, Eagle News Service)
