Megaworld Corp., the real estate unit of tycoon Andrew Tan, donated P60 million to the Philippine Red Cross to set up COVID-19 testing laboratories in Metro Manila.
Megaworld said in a statement Tuesday the donation was used in the purchase of four brand-new sets of COVID-19 test laboratories.
Each test laboratory has two RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) machines, one RNA machine that speeds up the test capability of the laboratory, a medical lab freezer and a bio-safety cabinet that protects samples from contamination.
“This will further strengthen our government’s efforts in detecting COVID-19 cases so we can really get to focus on them and prevent more people from being infected. The Philippine Red Cross has the experience and capability to operate these testing laboratories, and we are confident that this project can greatly help in having more people tested fast,” said Kevin Andrew Tan, chief strategy officer, of Megaworld.
The new testing laboratories are capable of conducting around 10,000 COVID-19 tests every day. Results of each test sample may be released within three hours.
“We continue to look for more projects and partnerships like this so we can further help government in saving lives and beat the virus,” Tan added.
Megaworld, along with its subsidiaries, has been distributing food and grocery bags to healthcare and border security frontliners around Metro Manila and nearby provinces since the start of the enhanced community quarantine period.
The group dispatched its Citylink buses to provide free transport to medical personnel to and from hospitals in Metro Manila.
Megaworld Foundation also distributed face masks to various foundations to protect the elderly and orphan beneficiaries.
Megaworld hotels, meanwhile, distributed shower caps, toiletries like soaps and shampoo, as well as personal protective equipment to several hospitals and local government units around the country.