DOH issues Press Release: ADB-sponsored COVID-19 Lab in Pampanga launched to ramp up PH daily capacity by 3,000
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, together with Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles and other officials of the Department of Health (DOH), inaugurated the state-of-the-art Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded Molecular and Diagnostic Pathology Laboratory of the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH) in San Fernando, Pampanga yesterday, May 9, 2020. JBLMGH was the recipient of the US2.5 million dollar-grant from the ADB to set up a Pandemic Sub national Reference Laboratory which will ramp up the country’s testing capacity by an additional 3,000 tests daily.

DOH issues Press Release: Biggest mega swabbing center in MOA Arena, to open on Monday
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, with National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vivencio Dizon and Philippine Red Cross Chairperson Senator Richard Gordon, inspected today the designated southern sector swabbing center in the SM Mall of Asia Arena, the biggest among the centers previously inspected. Said mega swabbing center has 72 testing booths that will be manned by a pool of health personnel hired by the Department of Health and the Philippine National Police medical staff. It is expected to add up to 1,500 tests in our country’s daily testing capacity. “Having swabbing sites this big is really important in our fight against COVID-19. With its 1,000-1,500 daily testing capacity, we are assured that we have enough facility to test our returning Overseas Filipinos, and later on, those in their respective communities as we help their local government,” Sec. Duque said...