Enlist private sector, LGU support to conduct frequent and free mass testing — Lacson

 Enlist private sector, LGU support to conduct frequent and free mass testing — Lacson

Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson urges the national government to engage private sector organizations and local government units (LGU) in the possible rollout of a free and wider COVID-19 testing program, considering the spate of new viral infections in the country.

Lacson issued this statement amid concerns from the general public over the price of getting an RT-PCR test and the increased demand for some reputable do-it-yourself COVID-19 rapid antigen testing kits owing to the threat of the highly contagious Omicron variant.

“Mahal ang testing e. Ang pag-swab test nasa mga P3,700 e, kung private setting ha. Kung pila, siyempre, mas mura-mura. Pero hindi naman lahat ng kababayan natin may panggastos na ganoon,” Lacson said in interview with DWIZ radio over the weekend.

(The price range for testing is quite expensive. The swab test costs around P3,700 when conducted in a private setting. If you fall in line, of course, you get a much cheaper rate. But we know not all of our countrymen have extra money to pay for it.)

“Ako suggestion ko, involve uli natin ‘yung mga local government unit at saka ‘yung pribadong sektor. Kasi willing naman ang private sector na tumulong dito e. Hindi ko lang alam kung bakit parang sa halip na i-encourage natin minsan, ‘di ba, pinapahirapan pa natin?” he added.

(My suggestion is let’s involve our local government units again and even the private sector. Because the private sector is willing to help in this program. I’m just not sure about the reason why sometimes, instead of encouraging it, we are making it hard for them.)

Lacson has been pushing for a free COVID-19 testing program, especially while the nation is still grappling with the ongoing pandemic and its recurring and emerging variants, saying this should be part of the public services offered by the government.

“Dapat libre talaga ‘yung testing, of course, lalo na doon sa mga pangkaraniwang empleyado. Kung may wherewithal naman at kaya naman magbayad, e ‘di pagbayarin. Pero ‘yung alam natin na pangkaraniwan, mga pang-araw-araw na sumusuweldo, offer-an na lang natin ng libre,” he said.

(The testing should really be made free, of course, especially to the ordinary employees. If some people have the wherewithal to pay for it, by all means, let them pay. But to those who we know would rather spend money on other things, the daily wage earners, let’s offer it for free.)

Lacson, meanwhile, reiterated his appeal to all diagnostic testing centers and laboratories conducting and processing these COVID-19 tests to keep their clients informed and updated about the status and results of their samples.

This is to prevent other people from going through the unnecessary stress of waiting for their test results like what happened to him and his wife. They were promised a 12-hour processing time when they first ordered a home service RT-PCR test, but they were made to wait for two days instead.

“Kasi obligasyon ‘yon e. Para kang pumirma ng contract e, nagbayad ka e. Sa akin naman, okay lang na ma-delay, na-ano ko rin ‘yon e, naintindihan ko rin na pwedeng na-overwhelm sila, ‘yung backlog nila masyadong malaki,” Lacson explained.

[Because it’s an obligation (on the part of the lab). It’s like you signed a contract and paid for (the service). On my part, the delay is okay because I understand that maybe they got overwhelmed, they incurred a huge backlog (of samples to process).]

“Sa akin naman ‘yon bang halimbawang tumawag man lang. Nandoon naman ‘yung aking telephone number, mobile number. Tawagan man lang na ‘ay pasensya na ho kayo kasi medyo overwhelmed kami ngayon pero asahan ninyo na mamadaliin namin ito’ o ilalabas ‘yung resulta,” he added.

[I just hoped they extended the courtesy of giving us an update, for example. They had my telephone number, my mobile number. They could have called and said ‘sorry, we were a bit overwhelmed (by the orders we received) today, but rest assured we are working on it to release your results.’]

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