BOCAUE, Bulacan–Senator Joel Villanueva led the inauguration of the COVID testing facility here which was named after his sister the late Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva.
Also present were Governor Daniel Fernando members of the Bulacan Mayor’s League. The Molecular Lab is located at the 2-hectare compound of Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital (JBLMH) extension also known as Joaquin T. Villanueva Medical Center held on Friday in Barangay Igulot.
The testing facility was named as “Joni Villanueva Molecular Laboratory” (JVML) and it will be managed and run by Marilao Medical, a private sector and built inside the JBLMH extension. It will start operation Wednesday next week, according to Roy Del Rosario, Project Director of JVML
“We’re very happy that now we have our own molecular laboratory and grateful dahil ipinangalan sa aking kapatid. This will cater not only Bocaueños but also the entire province,” Sen. Villanueva said.
Gov. Fernando lauded the late Mayor Joni for her perseverance to have the testing center built and her dedication to serve fellow Bocaueños during the pandemic.
Bulacan Mayor’s League President Mayor Ambrosio “Boy” Cruz Jr. of Guiguinto town said the molecular lab is a best example of a joint project from private and public sector also known as the Private Public Partnership (PPP).
“Sa totoo lang, ang utak ng proyektong ito ay si Mayor Joni Villanueva, siya talaga ang unang nakaisip na magkaroon ng covid testing lab sa Bocaue sa tulong ng mga kasama naming mga mayor na sumuporta immediately at nag-commit na mag-kontrubusyon maisakatuparan lang ang project na ito,” Cruz said.
Also present during the inaugural ceremony are Mayor Narding De Leon of Angat, Mayor Marry Ann Marcos of Paombong and Eladio Gonazales of Balagtas.
The P60-million testing center can accomodate an initial 1,500 patients up to 5,000 patients a day. A testing kit costs as low as P2,000.
The Molecular Lab is near the 140-hectare Philippine Arena.
Mayor Joni Villanueva died last May 28, 2020 due to sepsis bacterial secondary to pneumonia.
At present, Bulacan has now three testing laboratories — the GeneExpert Laboratory at the Bulacan Medical Center extension building that was inaugurated last June, the Bulacan Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory inagurated on Wednesday and the Mayor Joni Villanueva Molecular Laboratory.
The three medical facilities can also be used to test specimens for TB, flu, HIV and Hepatitis B and C by using polymerase chain reaction machine (PCR), DNA and RNA.