PNP’s molecular laboratory in Cebu City now operational

CEBU, Philippines — The molecular laboratory in Camp Sotero Cabahug, where the Cebu City Police Office is situated, is now in a full-blown operation.

The laboratory, which is equipped to perform COVID-19 tests, started its operations Wednesday.

This after the Philippine National Police (PNP) was given by the Department of Health the license to operate the laboratory.

Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, officer-in-charge of PNP, said the clearance was granted after finalizing the necessary permits and the training of the PNP medical personnel who will operate the facility

“We are glad to inform the public that the PNP Regional Health Service 7 Molecular Laboratory to be used for COVID-19 testing of police personnel has been given by the DOH a clearance to operate today (Wednesday),” he said in a statement.

Eleazar said the testing facility will process swab samples from all police officers in the entire Visayas area.

The laboratory can accommodate 80 to 120 tests per day through real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques.

“With this great development, our PNP-Health Service is in close coordination with the PNP- Directorate for Comptrollership for the purchase of reagents and supplies needed by the Regional Health Service (Central Visayas) Molecular Laboratory so that it can finally takeoff full well in serving its principal clients, our police personnel,” he said.

PNP’s molecular laboratory in Camp Sotero Cabahug, is its only COVID-19 testing lab outside Metro Manila so far.

Construction of the P10-million facility started last June 2020 and was completed and inaugurated in November of the same year. —KQD (FREEMAN)