Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, welcomed the city government’s offer of free COVID-19 swab testing to those working in the service sector.
The prelate described it as a “good move” especially amid the increasing number of new coronavirus disease cases in the country.
“It is a good move that the [local government] provide free testing to those who serve so as to arrest the spread of the virus,” said Bishop Pabillo.
He urged the faithful to avail of the free service.
On Wednesday, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso ordered free COVID-19 testing for employees of malls, hotels, restaurants and supermarkets, vendors in public markets, and drivers public transports.
Under Executive Order No. 39, Domagoso directed the Manila Health Department to provide free swab tests to the workers after the Sta. Ana Hospital’s second molecular laboratory was launched.
“The real threat of COVID-19 will continue to persist in our community, thereby sending fear to every person of getting infected with it,” said the mayor.
“This fear will affect not only the individual preferences and behavior or every person, but also the economic growth (of the city),” he added.
He said that to allay the fear of getting infected with COVID-19, “there is a need to assure the public that employees of these frequently visited establishments are COVID-19 free.
As of September 30, the City of Manila has a total of 17,464 COVID-19 cases, including 384 deaths and 14,365 recoveries.
