THE Provincial Government of Negros Occidental is currently lobbying for a second Covid-19 testing lab by way of a joint venture with a private company.
Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said the province's second molecular laboratory is planned to be constructed at the Valladolid District Hospital, through a joint effort with Manila-based company Safeguard Diagnostics.
Diaz said Safeguard Diagnostics will supply all of the equipment, while the Provincial Government will handle the funds for the proposed laboratory.
The provincial administrator stated the province will receive P95,000 a month coming from the private company as a rent, and a five percent rebate from the gross receipt of the company.
Diaz pointed out that aside from being beneficial for the residents of southern Negros, the molecular laboratory in Valladolid can serve as a secondary testing center in case the province's main test laboratory at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City encounters a problem.
He added that all of the machines and test kits that would be used are from the United States, and that the partnership will be beneficial for the two sides.