NEWS
HEALTH
Project ARK provides PCR tests to OFWs
by Alison Kyrille Roderika Wednesday B. Fajardo
Posted on December 11, 2020
Project ARK offered its laboratories to conduct COVID-19 tests to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are arriving in the country.
Laboratories at Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital Caloocan and JB Lingad Memorial Hospital in Pampanga will be dedicated for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of OFWs, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual press briefing last October 29.
Photo from Philippine News Agency
Philippine Airport Diagnostic Laboratory that operates in Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is also ready to provide PCR tests with 4,000 daily capacity. These have the same price as Philippine Red Cross' PCR tests.
“Iyong mga bumabalik na OFWs, huwag po kayong mag-alala, hinding-hindi po maaaberya ang inyong PCR tests,” Roque said.
He also explained that all indications point to the government imposing a price cap to the PCR Tests for COVID-19 as others sell it in higher values.
“Eh kasi po iyong iba naman ay napakataas talaga ng sinisingil ‘no. Eh alam naman natin na pupuwedeng mas mura iyang testing na iyan dahil sa Project ARK nga, as low as 1,500 ay kaya nilang magbigay ng testing up to 2,000 ‘no,” Roque said.
Moreover, the Department of Tourism is appealing for a price cap on RT-PCR and antigen tests to enhance tourism revival, but the price ceiling is yet to be released.
“Well, as I’ve said po ano, that’s for the final decision of the President already, hintayin na lang po natin,” Roque added.
As of December 9, there are 26,545 active cases in the country. #