The Iloilo City Goverment will purchase a total of 3,800 test kits for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said on Monday, March 23, the fund for the kits will be sourced from the cash donations.
Necessary documents are now being finilized for the procurement of 2,500 kits from South Korea worth P5.5 million.
Treñas said the amount for these kits comes from Iloilo Supermart and the Que family (P1 million) and businessmen Henry Chusuey (P3.5 million) and Injap Sia (P1 million).
The cash donated by businessmen Manuel Po and Tony Jon and Unitop will be used to buy 1,300 test kits developed by University of the Philippines (UP) scientists.
“These businessmen were kind enough to donate kag ibulig sa aton,” said Treñas.
“Ngaa gapreparar ako sang test kits? Para ini sa inyo nga ari diri sa syudad. Nagapasalamat gid ko sa mga negosyante nga nagbulig.”
The city government also ordered 1,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for frontline City Hall personnel and the excess will be given to hospitals.
“Gusto naton ang tanan nga mga health personnel naton fully protected,” Treñas said.
Meanwhile, the two medical technologists (MedTechs) from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) are aleady in the city to conduct COVID-19 tests at the Western Visayas Medical Center laboratory in Mandurriao district. They brought with them 300 test kits.
Treñas said two local MedTechs were also sent to RITM to undergo onsite training.IMT
