KAPATAGAN, Lanao del Norte, Sep. 30 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Lanao del Norte opened its coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) testing laboratory after the Department of Health (DOH) -Research Institute for Tropical Medicine has given them a license to operate.

Located at the old Kapatagan Provincial Hospital, the molecular biology laboratory is the first local government-initiated and operated in Northern Mindanao.

Governor Imelda "Angging" Quibranza-Dimaporo said during the inauguration ceremony that the COVID-19 molecular laboratory is just part of the bigger picture in achieving their aspiration to provide a quality, efficient and effective medical services to people of Lanao del Norte.

The governor also extended her appreciation to the support of the national government.

"We are thankful to IATF and DOH for persistently finding ways to curtail the spread of Covid-19. Thank you to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Senator Bong Go for actively supporting programs and activities of Lanao del Norte that seek nothing but for the welfare and best interest of the province," she added.

Meanwhile, National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez lauded the efforts of the provincial government in establishing the testing laboratory.

"Ang inyong desisyon na magkaroon ng Covid-19 laboratory ay isang napakagandang desisyon," Galvez told the provincial government leaders.

[Your decision to establish a Covid-19 laboratory is a great decision.]

DOH 10 Regional Director Adriano Suba-an said the opening of the facility "serves a great milestone in the fight against COVID-19."

Lanao del Norte 2nd District Representative Abdullah Dimaporo expressed appreciation to the efforts and support of the military in uniting the people to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The Php30 million facility is funded by the Bayanihan Grant allocated to provinces by the national government which was conceptualized in March.

Lanao del Norte's COVID-19 testing laboratory is the sixth laboratory in the region. Two of the laboratories are operated by DOH while the other three are maintained by private hospitals all in Cagayan de Oro. (LELA/ PIA ICIC)