The Province of Guimaras has procured 4,000 COVID-19 test kits as it plans to conduct targeted testing for the disease.
Of the number, 1,000 are rapid test kits worth Php 850,000.00.
Guimaras has also purchased 3,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits that costs Php 7,950,000.00
Governor Samuel T. Gumarin said that with the procurement of testing kits, Guimaras has gained additional armor in battling the pandemic.
“May test kits na kita. Labi sini napabaskog ang aton away batok sa COVID-19. Mahimo na kita magpatigayon sang testing because we have our own resources,” Gumarin said.
The frontliners deployed at the ports of entry to the province will be prioritized for testing.
He added that returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and anyone who will show symptoms of the disease will be tested.
The PCR test kits brought by the province are manufactured by South Korea.
Guimaras Lone District Representative Ma. Lucille L. Nava negotiated an agreement with the Western Visayas Medical Center where the PCR test kits will be stored as the province has no capacity to store the kits in a -25 degrees temperature.
Gumarin said that the fund used to acquire the testing kits was from the Bayanihan Grant to Provinces, a one-time financial assistance of the national government to the provinces in their fights against the health crisis.
Guimaras has received Php 28,771,128.00 from the national government to contain the spread of the virus,” according to Gumarin.
