MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is preparing for the possible conduct of free mass testing after President Duterte admitted to just having “realized” the importance of COVID-19 screening nine months into the health crisis.
According to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, the DOH is currently computing how much it would cost the government to provide Filipinos free COVID-19 tests.
“Iyon ang hangad ni Pangulong Duterte kaya nga sabi ko pinaghahandaan na natin ito kung magkano nga ang kakailanganin na investment for free testing. Iyon ang isusumite natin kay Pangulo para mapondohan,” Duque told reporters in an online briefing Wednesday.
“So aalamin pa n…
Keep on reading: After Duterte ‘realization,’ DOH now bracing for free COVID-19 tests