The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) could now conduct rapid antibody tests for front-liners using the PHP5-million worth of test kits donated by the Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC).

During the Inter-Agency Task Force for Coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) press conference on Wednesday, Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao said that the SMPC has donated 13 boxes of Covid-19 Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) to the provincial government.

“The IPHO could now start to conduct the rapid test to front-liners,” she said.

She added that aside from the donation, the provincial government will also purchase its own test kits to make sure there would be enough kits to be used for front-liners working in hospitals, border patrol police, and even the media.

Rapid tests will also be conducted on employees of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) who deliver food packs to the Covid-19 affected families in the municipalities, she said.

The Antique Provincial Board during their May 4 session has approved the purchase of PHP15 million worth of rapid test kits that will be made available in the provincial borders of Hamtic and Pandan towns.

With the ready test kits in the borders, Antiqueños coming home including sugar migrants from Negros Occidental, could be tested before they are allowed entry to the province.

“If testing is made right in the borders then we could prevent the further spread of Covid-19 within the province,” Cadiao said.

The PHP15 million fund for the purchase of test kits will be sourced from the PHP65-million Bayanihan Grant. (PNA)

Photo Source: Facebook/cadiao.cares