The Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center (LPGHSTC) testing capacity to process more COVID-19 tests would be further boosted with a set of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Machine donated by San Miguel Foundation Inc., said Senator Cynthia Villar.
Villar is thankful to San Miguel Foundation for its donation. which was facilitated by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar.
“The PCR Machine with UPS, AVR and laptop will be a very good addition to LPGHSTC’s Covid-19 Testing Laboratory,” the senator said.
The first set of equipment for the laboratory, which consists of a passbox, biological freezer, biological refrigerator, autoclave sterilizer and ventilator, was donated by the senator in June.
The LPGHSTC Testing Laboratory will be using both its existing Genexpert machine and the newly donated PCR machine to boost its capacity.
"As we all know, hospitals especially in Metro Manila are operating in full capacity as the number of cases increases, so they need all the help they can get,” said Villar.
San Miguel has been donating COVID-19 testing booths and PCR Machines to various local government units (LGUs) to help boost their testing capacities.
Villar has been supporting her home city’s hospital since she was a congresswoman. She authored
Republic Act 9240 in 2004, which converted the Las Piñas District Hospital into LPGH & STC, and increased the bed capacity of the hospital from 50 then to the present 200 beds.
She recently filed Senate Bill No. 143 to increase in the bed capacity of LGPH & STC from the present 200 to 500 beds, and to upgrade its service facilities and professional healthcare services.
The proposed bill has been approved in the Senate. A counterpart measure at the House of Representative, authored by Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, was passed last March 2, 2020.
The senator has earmarked P500 million next year (2021) to fund the expansion of LPGH & STC. The construction of the additional eight-storey building is slated to be finished next year. This year, she also channelled P144 million to purchase the land and start the hospital building’s construction.
According to her, the expansion of LGPH & STC will provide separate facilities for COVID-19 and non-COVID patients to avoid the spread of the virus, one building each.
LPGH & STC is a DOH-operated hospital that serves the National Capital Region and neighboring provinces.