The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Cotabato City-Maguindanao molecular laboratory received its License to Operate from the Department of Health on November 11, 2021, after passing its efficiency test set by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine last October 01, 2021.

PRC, Cotabato City – Maguindanao is the 14th molecular laboratory in the country, which will begin its operation on November 12, 2021. The new molecular laboratory is in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It is equipped with two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines and one ribonucleic acid (RNA) extractor capable of conducting 2,000 tests a day, which will serve Maguindanao, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, and Davao City.

“Layunin ng Philippine Red Cross na mas marami pa ang ating ma-test upang maiwasan natin ang hawaan ng COVID-19. Sa ngayon ay 200 test per day lamang ang capacity ng Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, at sa pamamagitan ng bagong molecular laboratory ay mas mapapabilis natin at mapapalakas ang COVID-19 response sa mga lugar na nasasakupan nito,” PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon said.

It is through the leadership of Sem. Dick Gordon to establish the molecular laboratories in strategic areas to make it more accessible for the people who want to get tested for COVID-19. PRC tested a total of 4,870,989 as of November 11, 2021. Of over 281 molecular laboratories in the country, PRC has the biggest output of any organization representing 21% of the national testing output.

PRC also is ramping up vaccination efforts nationwide to get more people vaccinated as soon as possible through the Bakuna centers and PRC bakuna busses, having inoculated over 393,617 individuals.