Maynilad unveils P15 million COVID-19 testing center

MANILA, Philippines — West zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. yesterday inaugurated its P15-million testing center for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to help boost the country’s testing capacity.

Maynilad partnered with the De los Santos Medical Center (DLSMC) for the testing facility.

Maynilad chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, president and chief executive officer Ramoncito Fernandez and DLSMC CEO Raul Pagdanganan unveiled the commemorative plaque of collaboration for the Maynilad-DLSMC reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR testing center.

To be built within the DLSMC complex in Quezon City, the facility will conduct and process swab samples of suspected COVID-19 patients.

RT-PCR is the standard testing procedure recommended by the World Health Organization in detecting COVID-19.

Once operational, the testing center can process swab samples of about 200 patients daily.

To date, there are 30 RT-PCR laboratories licensed by the Department of Health.

Maynilad said it continues to implement relief efforts for frontliners and urban poor communities, including the distribution of hygiene kits, sanitation tents and drinking water, as well as the provision of free water supply for quarantine facilities in Metro Manila.

Maynilad and DLSMC are companies under Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

The DLSMC is among the 16 hospitals operated by the Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings Inc.

Maynilad is the largest private water concessionaire in the country in terms of customer base. It serves the cities of Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon as well as portions of Manila, Quezon City, Makati and Cavite.