THANKS to Joy Young we were reminded that the Christina Lee Dino Foundation donated several RT-PCR machines and RT-PCR test kits as early as March this year.
In the time stamp of the collage that Joy Young posted on his Facebook account, Mayor Labella’s post was dated 20 March 2020 announcing the arrival of the test kits, meaning RT-PCR test kits.
Beside Mayor Labella’s post was the SunStar front page issue of 19 June 2020, showing the banner headline, “TEST KITS BOUGHT BY LGU, NOT OPAV: DINO.”
As early as February this year, when Covid-19 was detected in the country, Secretary Michael Dino took note that there was a global scarcity of medical equipment and supplies to include medical face masks and PPE (personal protective equipment).
To insure that Visayas will have these supplies, the Christina Lee Dino Foundation donated three RT-PCR machines. Two of these RT-PCR machines were given to the sub-national laboratory in Cebu City and one RT-PCR machine was given to the EVRMC laboratory (Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center) in Region 8.
Along with the RT-PCR machines donated were RT-PCR test kits and RT-PCR swab kits to include medical masks and PPE.
A total of 20,000 RT-PCR test kits were distributed to the government laboratories and 10,000 RT-PCR swab kits were distributed to different government hospitals and local government units (LGUs) in the Visayas.
The period during Mayor Labella’s post last 20 March 2020 announcing the arrival of the donation, there were still no Department of Health-Central Visayas validated serological (blood) antibody rapid detection test, or commonly known as rapid test.
The verification of the rapid test kits to be purchased by the LGUs of Cebu City, Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City for the prevalence survey was only done in the period 04-05 May 2020.
These were the rapid test kits purchased by the LGUs for the prevalence survey. We want to believe that Joy Young may have exposed his ignorance or his refusal to accept the good things that are happening in Cebu City and for Mayor Edgar Labella in the middle of this pandemic.
We pity those who are losing their intelligence after they had the chance but failed to do something good for Cebu City.