Market vendors in the city of Manila will be among those prioritized to be swabbed in the second swab testing laboratory at the Sta. Ana Hospital.

Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso, during the opening of the new lab on Tuesday, said the new laboratory can process about 1,000 tests per day, strengthening the city’s testing capacity.

The Sta. Ana Hospital can now process about 30,000 tests per month.

Domagoso thanked the national government, through the Department of Health and the Department of Budget and Management, for the machines donated to the hospital.

He also thanked all the doctors, nurses and medical front-liners whom he said are contributing much in the battle against the pandemic.

“[The City of Manila was able] to achieve flying colors because our doctors, nurses and healthcare workers focused on the infected. We invested in our facilities, doctors, all available sciences, available medicines allowed by the national government through the Department of Health and Food and Drug Administration,” he said.

Meanwhile, officials of the Ayala Group of Companies also graced the opening of the Sta. Ana Hospital’s RT-PCR Molecular Laboratory.

The Ayala Group of Companies has contributed about PHP8.5 million for the construction of the molecular laboratory in support of the city government’s mass testing initiative.

Domagoso said while the treatment for a Covid-19 patient may be expensive, the city government will continue to shoulder the expenses.

“If it’s expensive, pera naman ng taumbayan yan (if it’s expensive, it is the people’s money anyway. They deserve better things from the government. Your city government, in our own little way, will not stop serving our fellow Manileños,” Domagoso said.

As of noon of September 29, the Manila City government has already swabbed a total of 27,280 individuals. (PNA)