Govt faces supply chain issues in boosting COVID-19 testing capacity

The Philippine government is currently facing supply chain issues that are hindering its ability to increase its COVID-19 testing capacity to the targeted 30,000 tests per day by the end of June.

Chief COVID-19 response implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. acknowledged the problem and stated that efforts are underway to resolve the supply chain challenges.

The initial target of 30,000 daily tests by the end of May was not met, though an earlier report from Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque claimed the capacity had reached 32,100 per day on May 20.

Galvez mentioned that the country's 42 testing laboratories have a high capacity and that local government units in Metro Manila are conducting regular testing.

The government aims to test up to 10 percent of the population in outbreak epicenters like Metro Manila, with the necessary budget already prepared.

It was clarified that the reported national testing capacity refers to the capability of licensed laboratories, not the actual number of tests performed, which has averaged between 8,500 to 9,500 daily in recent times.