Metrobank and GT Capital Holdings Inc., through their respective foundations, have donated P18 million to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to set up an additional molecular laboratory capable of detecting COVID-19 and other contagious diseases.

The facility, located at the former PRC headquarters in Port Area, Manila is capable of testing 2,000 samples a day. It is equipped with automated extraction machines and will be accredited by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine-Department of Health to operate during this crisis.

PRC recently established the pioneer facility at the PRC Tower in Mandaluyong City. It has two complete testing systems consisting of Automated RNA Extraction and Polymerase Chain Reaction machines and over 10,000 testing kits.

All hands are on deck against COVID-19. During this critical time, fully equipped facilities spell a big difference in the early diagnosis and treatment of cases,” said Metrobank Foundation Inc. president and GT Foundation Inc. executive director Aniceto Sobrepeña.

The laboratory will also go a long way in ensuring early detection and efficient treatment of other contagious and deadly diseases such as cancer, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis, dengue, malaria, tuberculosis and Zika virus, among others.

The donation is part of the P200-million pledge by Metrobank and GT Capital to fund and support efforts to combat the pandemic and help those in need. The amount was allocated for the purchase of personal protective equipment to benefit healthcare and security frontliners; support for the production of testing kits through the UP National Institutes of Health; ‘Project Ugnayan’  led by the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation; distribution of meals and food packs to underprivileged families; and Project ARK (Antibody Rapid test Kits) of GoNegosyo (Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship Foundation).

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