Push Admin

Philippine Red Cross begins COVID-19 mass testing of repatriated OFWs

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE) </strong>- The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Friday began its mass coronavirus testing program for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were repatriated last month.</p><p>At least 120 seafarers were swabbed at the PRC&#x27;s molecular laboratory in Mandaluyong City to ensure that they are free from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) before government allows them to return to their hometowns.</p><p>&quot;Our aim is to really get our people tested so that we can immediately isolate those who are affected and prevent the non-carriers from acquiring the virus,&quot; PRC chair Sen. Richard Gordon said in a statement.</p><p>&quot;We want to make sure that our OFWs are safe before they go home to their families,&quot; he said.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">LOOK: Philippine Red Cross begins <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> mass testing program for OFWs. PRC chair <a href="https://twitter.com/DickGordonDG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DickGordonDG</a> says they expect to test 20,000 OFWs (📷 from Sen. Gordon’s office) <a href="https://t.co/l7joHEFJxz">pic.twitter.com/l7joHEFJxz</a></p>— Kat Domingo (@_katrinadomingo) <a href="https://twitter.com/_katrinadomingo/status/1256087813839220737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2020</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Nurses and medical technologists from the Armed Forces of the Philippines are helping the Red Cross administer the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tests, he said.</p><p>OFWs who test negative for COVID-19 will be allowed to go on home quarantine instead of being isolated in government facilities, Presidential adviser for flagship programs and projects Vince Dizon said.</p><p>&quot;Umaabot ng 1,000 mahigit ang dumarating na OFWs everyday. We want to test them and we want to work with Chairman Gordon para mabilis iyong resulta,&quot; he said.</p><p>(Up to 1,000 OFWs are returning to the Philippines daily. We want to test them and we want to work with Chairman Gordon so we can get the results faster.)</p><p>The PRC expects to test at least 20,000 repatriates.</p><p>&quot;We are planning to put up 20 more [laboratories] throughout the country so that we could test more,&quot; Gordon said.</p><p>In an interview with radio DZMM, the lawmaker said PRC would also be establish testing centers in Subic, Zambales and Clark, Pampanga.</p><p>The group eyes to conduct up to 8,000 tests per day.</p><p>“Kung hindi tayo magpapatest, hindi natin mahahabol ito. Matatagalan tayo,” Gordon said.</p><p>(If we don’t get tested, we will not be able to catch up [the virus.] This will drag on.)</p><p>The senator also said PRC testing centers had been opened to the public and would prioritize those with possible symptoms of COVID-19.</p><p>The public can call PRC’s hotline number 1158 for pre-screening and scheduling, he said.</p><p>The test will cost P3,500, which will be shouldered by Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), he added.</p><p>PRC earlier acquired several reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which health authorities consider the “gold standard” of COVID-19 testing.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/04/20/philippine-red-cross-acquires-machines-special-ambulances-to-aid-in-fight-vs-coronavirus">Philippine Red Cross acquires machines, special ambulances to aid in fight vs coronavirus</a></li></ul><p>PRC&#x27;s laboratory is one of the 19 laboratories in the Philippines capable of conducting and processing COVID-19 tests. The Department of Health (DOH) has yet to accredit 40 other testing facilities.</p><p>The DOH has yet to reach its target 8,000 COVID-19 tests a day due to the inability of some laboratories to run tests and the lack of encoders.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/15/20/ph-red-cross-lab-raises-to-16-philippines-laboratories-for-covid-19-testing">PH Red Cross lab raises to 16 Philippines&#x27; laboratories for COVID-19 testing</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/30/20/doh-hopeful-to-reach-8000-testing-capacity-soon-cites-encoding-delays">DOH ‘hopeful’ to reach 8,000 testing capacity soon, cites encoding delays</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tMRTQ5wOrBo?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><div> </div>

<p>The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Thursday began its mass coronavirus testing program for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were repatriated to the country last month.</p>

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Thursday began its mass coronavirus testing program for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were repatriated to the country last month.

Philippine Red Cross begins COVID-19 mass testing of repatriated OFWs

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

Philippine Red Cross begins COVID-19 mass testing of repatriated OFWs

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 01, 2020 03:14 PM PHT

|

Updated May 01, 2020 09:25 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Red Cross

Red Cross COVID-19 test

COVID-19 test OFWs

Richard Gordon

coronavirus

COVID-19

mass testing for OFWs

OFW

overseas Filipino workers

health

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.