DAGUPAN CITY -- Frontliners in the Fourth District of Pangasinan may now avail themselves of free reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The free RT-PCR test in this city and the towns of Mangaldan, Manaoag, San Fabian, and San Jacinto is an initiative of Fourth District Representative Christopher De Venecia.

De Venecia signed a memorandum of agreement with the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) in coordination with the local government units (LGUs), according to a press statement issued by the lawmaker's office on Friday, June 19.

The swab testing started on Friday, June 19, with some 86 frontliners from San Fabian town.

“Kaya, upang ipakita ang malasakit at pagkilala sa kabayanihan ng mga frontliners, gumawa ng paraan para maging libre na ang pagkuha ng naturang test (To show concern and honor the heroism of the frontliners, the test was made free for them),” the statement said.

De Venecia’s office said the LGUs will provide the list of frontliners to undergo the test, while R1MC will conduct the testing and processing of results.

The Department of Health has given R1MC the license to operate a molecular center to process specimens through RT-PCR. (PNA)