CLARK FREEPORT ZONE, Pampanga — The soon-to-be-operational Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Molecular Laboratory in Clark can process up to 2,000 COVID-19 tests per day.
During his inspection of the facility today, PRC Chairperson and Senator Richard Gordon said the laboratory has two Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) machines.
“Once fully operational, the lab will strengthen implementation of an expanded targeted testing in Central Luzon, especially in Pampanga and Tarlac,” he said.
It will also be used in processing tests of Filipino repatriates arriving in Clark International Airport and patients staying in We Heal As One Centers at the ASEAN Convention Center and New Clark City.
Gordon was joined by National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer and Bases Conversion and Development Authority President and CEO Vince Dizon, Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda, Tarlac Governor Susan Yap, Bamban Mayor Jose Antonio Feliciano, Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Undersecretary Arturo Garcia.
PRC Secretary General Ma. Elizabeth Zavalla and former Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial were also present during the inspection.
To date, Central Luzon has three operational COVID-19 testing facilities namely Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital’s Pandemic Sub-national Reference Laboratory, 1Bataan-Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center RT-PCR Laboratory and GreenCity Medical Center Molecular Pathology Laboratory.