National Action Plan Against COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. led the inspection of the Philippine Arena mega swabbing center on Wednesday, May 20, which will be operational in the coming days.
The national government, through National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon, on Thursday reported a more than 70-percent increase in the Philippines’ overall daily testing capacity and in actual tests conducted.
In a public briefing, Dizon said daily testing capacity already reached 14,500 in May 10 from just 8,500 in May 2, representing a 70.6-percent increase within a little over a week.
Reports have reached the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) that an ambulance bearing a sticker of New Clark City was recently flagged down in a checkpoint where Pampanga police found boxes of liquor.
The said ambulance was a donation made by a private company to the town of Capas in Tarlac where New Clark City is located.
Hundreds of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) lined up for COVID-19 testing Sunday, May 10, at the Palacio de Maynila mega swabbing center at Roxas Boulevard.
They arrived aboard buses provided by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) following strict health protocols and will be tested by the medical team of the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
The Palacio de Maynila swabbing facility has 65 specimen collection booths. It started operations on Thursday afternoon, May 7.
The We Heal As One Center–Ninoy Aquino Stadium discharged on Saturday, May 9, 21 recovered patients from COVID-19, the biggest single-day tally of survivors released from the said facility.
The 21 individuals tested negative and were given medical certificates after being isolated at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium for a mandatory period of 14 days.
The national government, through National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon, committed to construct more quarantine facilities and increase the laboratory testing capacity for the coronavirus disease in the province of Cebu.
Dizon met with Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes on Saturday, May 9, to discuss the government’s efforts in containing the spread of COVID-19.
Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) earlier stranded in Clark due to travel restrictions have arrived home in Northern Mindanao on Saturday, May 9.
The 21 OFWs were transported via Philippine Airlines’ sweeper flight to Cagayan de Oro. Their return home was made possible through the joint efforts of Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), the Department of Tourism - Region 3 and Region 10, and the local government units in Northern Mindanao.
The Palacio de Maynila swabbing center started its operations on Thursday, May 7, testing 250 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) undergoing mandatory quarantine.
“Our immediate goal in the next few weeks is to swab 25,000 seafarers and land-based OFWs, as well as overseas Filipinos,” said National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Sec. Vince Dizon.
Dizon is also President and CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects.
