Presidential Peace Adviser and national policy against Covid-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. met with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Saturday to discuss ways on strengthening the capacity of the local government to conduct tests for coronavirus disease.

The meeting was held at the Southern Philippines Medical Southern (SPMC), which was then the sole Covid-19 testing center in Mindanao.

Another testing facility has been established in Zamboanga City and is already operational.

Galvez lauded the efforts of the Davao City government to curb the spread of the virus. He stressed that LGUs are a vital cog in the government’s efforts to mitigate the impact of the disease in communities.

Mayor Sara, for her part, said the city government is strictly following the guidelines from the Interagency Task Force (IATF) with regard to the implementation of Covid-19 prevention and mitigation measures.

During the meeting, Galvez also turned over to the mayor 20,000 rapid diagnostic test kits, 10,000 polymerase chain (PCR) test kits and 2,500 extraction kits.

The testing kits will be distributed to the provinces of Davao del Norte (2,500), Davao del Sur (2,500), Davao de Oro (2,500), Davao Oriental (2,500), and Davao City (10,000).

Meanwhile, Galvez inspected the unloading of personal protective equipment (PPE) from a Philippine Navy vessel docked at the Sasa Wharf. The vessel picked up the PPE gears from Xiamen, China. The medical supplies will be delivered to key areas in Mindanao.

Galvez was joined by OPAPP Assistant Secretary Wilben Mayor, head of the NTF on Covid-19 Sub Task Group on Strategic Communications, Dr. Gloria Balboa of the Department of Health, and medical experts Dr. Anthony Leachon, Dr. Ted Herbosa and Dr. Manuel Bueno.