Villar thanks San Miguel Foundation for PCR machine donation to LPGHSTC

Senator Cynthia Villar thanks San Miguel Foundation Inc. for its donation of a set of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Machine to the Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center (LPGHSTC), which was facilitated by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar.

 

The PCR Machine with UPS, AVR and laptop will be a very good addition to LPGHSTC’s Covid-19 Testing Laboratory. The first set of equipment for the said laboratory was donated by Senator Villar last month (June). It is consists of a passbox, biological freezer, biological refrigerator, autoclave sterilizer and ventilator. 

The LPGHSTC Testing Laboratory will be using both its existing Genexpert machine and the newly donated PCR machine to boost its capacity to process more Covid-19 tests.

 

“On behalf of all Las Piñeros, I am thankful to San Miguel, the PCR will be a big help in enhancing the responsiveness of Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center in dealing with Covid-19. As we all know, hospitals especially in Metro Manila are operating in full capacity as the number of cases increases, so they need all the help they can get,” said Villar.

 

San Miguel has been donating Covid-19 testing booths and PCR Machines to various local government units (LGUs) to help boost testing capacities.

Villar has been supporting her home city’s hospital since she was a congresswoman.  She authored Republic Act 9240 in 2004 that converted the then Las Piñas District Hospital into LPGH & STC and increased the bed capacity of the hospital from 50 then to the present 200 beds. 

           

She recently filed Senate Bill No. 143 to increase in the bed capacity of LGPH & STC from the present 200 to 500 beds and to upgrade its service facilities and professional healthcare services. The proposed bill has been approved in the Senate. A counterpart measure at the House of Representative, authored by Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar, was passed last March 2, 2020.

           

The senator has earmarked P500 million next year (2021) to fund the expansion of LPGH & STC. The construction of the additional eight-storey building is slated to be finished next year. This year, she also channelled P144 million to purchase the land and start the hospital building’s construction.

           

According to her, the expansion of LGPH & STC will provide separate facilities for Covid-19 and non-Covid patients to avoid the spread of the virus, one building each. LPGH & STC is a DOH-operated hospital that serves the National Capital Region (NCR) and neighboring provinces.