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NPC seeks 'more inclusive' COVID-19 testing

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Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/03/24/20200323-covid-amang-rodriguez-screening-jc-9544.jpg"/><figcaption>Medical staff attend to patients at a screening booth at the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center in Marikina City on March 23, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - The National People&#x27;s Coalition (NPC) on Monday called for a &quot;more inclusive&quot; testing for COVID-19, saying unconfirmed carriers may have died without their contacts traced.Three senators, including Senate President Vicente Sotto III, 42 House members and 8 governors affiliated with the NPC signed the party resolution, which was sent to Malcañang at around 9:30 a.m.The Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter-Agency Task Force should &quot;fast track the conduct of an effective, efficient, responsive and more inclusive mass testing of Filipinos for the SARS-CoV-2 virus,&quot; the party&#x27;s resolution read.&quot;There were several instances where suspected COVID-19 patients died, even before knowing the results of the test whether they are COVID-19 positive... People who exhibited symptoms of the virus have died, without having been tested before they were cremated,&quot; it said.The NPC also urged the DOH to allow the use of rapid test kits in accredited facilities nationwide and to &quot;immediately conduct ocular inspections and examinations&quot; of possible testing centers.Among the lawmakers who signed the resolution was Marikina Rep. Bayani Fernando, whose local government counterparts earlier complained about the DOH&#x27;s slow accreditation of a COVID-19 testing center in his city.Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Valenzuela Rep. Weslie Gatchalian also signed the resolution after their brother, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, decried the absence of testing for persons under monitoring, or those who came in contact with COVID-19 carriers.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/14/20/marikina-to-open-covid-19-test-hub-without-doh-nod">Marikina to open COVID-19 test hub without DOH nod</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/16/20/valenzuela-mayor-rex-gatchalian-says-not-testing-pums-a-concern">Valenzuela mayor Rex Gatchalian says not testing PUMs a concern</a></li></ul>Other NPC members who backed the resolution are:SENATORS Senate President Vicente Sotto III Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian Sen. Lito LapidGOVERNORS Aurora Gov. Eugenio Noveras Camiguin Gov. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo Davao Oriental Gov. Claude Bautista Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Lacson Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda Rizal Gov. Rebecca Ynares Sorsogon Goc. Chiz Escudero Tarlac Gov. Susan Yap<div>HOUSE MEMBERS</div>LUZON Apayao Re. Elias Balut Jr. Bacolod City Rep. Greg Gasataya Batanes Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr. Camarines Sur Rep. Marissa Lourdes Andaya Camarines Sur Rep. Arnulf Fuentebella Cavite Rep. Dahlia Loyola Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao Ilocos Sur Rep. Kristine Meehan Isabela Rep. Faustino Michael Dy La Union Rep. Pablo Ortega Makati Rep. Luis Campos Malabon City Rep. Josephine Lacson Noel Manila Rep. Manuel Luis Lopez Manila Rep. Edward Maceda Marikina Rep. Bayani Fernando Navotas City Rep. John Reynald Tiangco Palawan Rep. Gil Acosta Pangasinan Rep. Tyrone Agabas Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito-Castelo Quezon City Rep. Allan Reyes Rizal Rep. Jack Duavit Sorsogon Rep. Evelina Escudero Sorsogon Rep. Bernardita Ramos Tarlac Rep. Charlie Cojuangco Tarlac Rep. Victor Yap Valenzuela City Rep. Weslie Gatchalian Zambales Rep. Cheryl Deloso-MontallaVISAYAS Aklan Rep. Carlito Marquez Antique Rep. Loren Legarda Bohol Rep. Enrico Aris Aumentado Cebu Rep. Peter John Calderon Negros Occidental Rep. Genaro Alvarez Jr. Negros Occidental Rep. Gerardo Valmayor Jr. Negros Oriental Rep. Chiquiting Sagarbarria Siquijor Rep. Jake Vincent VillaMINDANAO Davao Occidental Rep. Lorna Bautista Bandigan Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe Zamboanga City Rep. Cesar Gimenez Jr.Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles earlier said that persons under monitoring would also be included in the government&#x27;s mass testing program.As of last week, the Philippines has tested at least 42,000 individuals for COVID-19.

The National People's Coalition (NPC) on Monday called for a "more inclusive" testing for COVID-19, saying unconfirmed carriers may have died without their contacts traced.

The National People's Coalition (NPC) on Monday called for a "more inclusive" testing for COVID-19, saying unconfirmed carriers may have died without their contacts traced.

NPC seeks 'more inclusive' COVID-19 testing

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NPC seeks 'more inclusive' COVID-19 testing

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 20, 2020 06:07 PM PHT

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National People's Coalition

NPC

coronavirus

mass testing

COVID-19

coronavirus mass testing in the Philippines

COVID-19 mass testing

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