MANDALUYONG CTY -- Philippine Red Cross Chairman and CEO Senator Richard Gordon is answering the call of the national government to support its Aggressive Community Testing (ACT) in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), specifically in the Province of Apayao, from August 24 to 28, 2021, targeting several vulnerable and high-risk barangays that are severely affected by COVID-19.

In a letter addressed to the PRC Chairman, Secretary Vince Dizon, the Deputy Chief Implementer of the National Action Plan Against COVID-19, appealed to the Red Cross for help as 7,000 specimens a day are needed to be tested from CAR.

"The PRC Isabela Chapter has a molecular laboratory that can assist the government's ACT program. I already instructed the PRC to boost up the Isabela molecular laboratory's capacity so it can provide 7,000 specimens a day," said Gordon.

"Isa lang itong patunay na kami dito sa Red Cross ay kaagapay ng buong sambayanan. The Philippine Red Cross is always first, always ready, and always there," added Gordon.

The PRC molecular laboratory in Isabela opened last year, November 25, 2020, with a current testing capacity of 2,000 specimens a day. Since it started last year, the Isabela testing center has swabbed 43,776 and saliva tests at 30,881.

The continued and full-blown implementation of the ACT Program, together with Oplan Kalinga (OK) and the Mega Swabbing Facilities (MSFs), is part of the government's efforts in strengthening the country's capacity in testing to contain the spread of the virus. (Philippine Red Cross)