Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital Launches Asian Development Bank-Funded Sub-National Molecular and Diagnostic Pathology Laboratory

(11 May 2020) – The Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital (JBLMRH) in San Fernando City, Pampanga, launched its recently developed and capacitated molecular and diagnostic pathology laboratory last May 09, 2020 in a small ceremony attended by Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, Undersecretary Gerardo V. Bayugo, Assistant Secretary Maria Francia M. Laxamana, Director Leonita P. Gorgolon, and Director Cesar C. Cassion, JBLMRH Medical Center Chief Monserrat S. Chichioco of the Department of Health, and Asian Development Bank (ADB) officials, including Mr. Ahmed M. Saeed (Vice President for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific), Mr. Kelly Bird (Philippine Country Director), and Mr. Gerard Servais (Human and Social Development Division- Senior Health Specialist).

Also present were Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei P. Nograles, Dr. Tauhid Islam (World Health Organization Acting Representative to the Philippines), Mr. Tan Qingsheng (Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China), Governor Dennis G. Pineda of the province of Pampanga, and Police Brigadier General Rhodel O. Sermonia (Regional Director, Police Regional Office 3).

(left) Mr. Ahmed Saeed of the ADB provides a statement of support to the DOH, (right) Secretary Franciso T. Duque III expresses gratitude to the ADB and the various stakeholders for making the development and capacitation of the laboratory possible.

In his speech, Secretary Duque expressed his gratitude to the ADB and other stakeholders for “this welcome addition to the growing list of health facilities which will contribute to the COVID-19 response in the country, primarily in our testing capability.”

The laboratory development and capacitation was funded through the COVID-19 Emergency Response Project, a USD 3 million grant from the ADB- Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund. The equipment and the additional technical support and training of JBLMRH staff were acquired from the Beijing Genomics Institute of the People’s Republic of China, while the assistance in the retrofitting of the hospital to comply with biosafety standards was made possible through the Unilab Foundation. This laboratory is expected to augment testing capacity by contributing up to 3,000 tests per day.

ADB Vice President for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Mr. Ahmed Saeed, formally turns over the JBLMRH laboratory to Secretary Franciso T. Duque III.

Secretary Francisco T. Duque, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexeis Nograles, Mr. Ahmed Saeed, Dr. Tauhid Islam, and Dr. Monseratt Chichioco formally launches the JBLMRH molecular and diagnostic pathology laboratory.

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