General Santos’ Testing Laboratory

The testing laboratory will be established at the local government-run Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital (DJPRH in General Santos City). A total of Php 15 Million is being allocated by the local government for the purchase of reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machine and installation of a biosafety Level 2 laboratory system in the DJPRH. Currently, the DJPRH extension building is being utilized as a COVID-19 center equipped with thirteen (13) single rooms and three (3) intensive care set-ups. Establishment of a testing laboratory requires a five (5) stagecompliance process: (i) self-assessment and application; (ii) construction of the testing laboratory and installation of the required equipment; (iii) training of assigned laboratory personnel; (iv) trial testing and calibration in collaboration with the RITM; and, (v) actual testing. In an interview, Dr. Ryan Aplicador, DJRPH Chief, confirmed that the first and third stages have been complied with and the testing laboratory is set to be operationalized by end of April 2020. He attributed fast-tracking of processing and approval of the DOH and RITM to the efforts of the city’s COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force.