Push Admin

Palace says PH has capacity to run over 30,000 COVID-19 tests daily

Article (news)

Arianne Merez, 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/05/19/20200513-covid19-ofw-swab-testing-gc-0405_1.jpg"/><figcaption>An Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) from Thailand holds his 2-year-old son as he covers his nose at a swab testing center for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Manila on May 13, 2020.<em> George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><h2>DOH data shows 8,000 daily tests in recent days</h2><p>MANILA (3RD UPDATE) - Malacañang claimed Monday that the Philippines has achieved its target of increasing its coronavirus testing capacity to 30,000 per day but actual COVID-19 tests ran by the government daily remain below 10,000.</p><p>Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the government exceeded its goal last May 20, as it has the capacity to run 32,100 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests in a day.</p><p>&quot;Naabot na natin ang ating target na 30,000 PCR tests per day,&quot; he said in a virtual press briefing.</p><p>(We have reached our target of 30,000 PCR tests per day.)</p><p>&quot;Ang original target po ay 30,000 by May 30 pero nung Mayo 20 po, nakaabot na po tayo sa 32,100 tests per day. Nalampasan po natin ang ating target,&quot; he added.</p><p>(The original target is 30,000 by May 30 but on May 20, we reached 32,100 tests per day. We exceeded our target.)</p><p>TESTING CAPACITY ONLY</p><p>In a succeeding statement, Roque clarified that he was referring to the &quot;national testing capacity&quot; and not the actual tests ran by government daily.</p><p>&quot;This is to clarify that I was referring to our national testing capacity, which is now at 32,000/day, when I earlier mentioned that we have already conducted and surpassed the 30,000-target last May 20,&quot; he said in a statement.</p><p>Health Undersecretary Maria Rosasrio Vergeire said 32,000 is the estimated maximum capacity per day of all licensed laboratories in the country.</p><p>The estimation is based on the number of machines, human resource, and operating hours per laboratory, she explained.</p><p>Roque said that expanding the government&#x27;s testing capacity is &quot;our first step to increasing the number of daily tests conducted.&quot; </p><p>&quot;This means more accredited laboratories and more automated machines so that we are capable of testing up to 30,000 plus per day,&quot; he said.</p><p>On Sunday, the Department of Health reported that it conducted 8,283 COVID-19 tests on May 23.</p><p>In the previous days, the government has also conducted less than 10,000 COVID-19 tests daily, based on reports from the DOH, except on May 14, when 11,123 screenings were done.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/reuters/05/25/20200525-covid-test.jpg?ext=.jpg"/></figure></div><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/19/20/red-cross-private-sector-conduct-over-half-of-philippines-covid-19-tests-govt-data">Red Cross, private sector conduct over half of Philippines&#x27; COVID-19 tests: gov&#x27;t data</a></li></ul><p>The government opened swabbing centers earlier this month to boost its response efforts to the pandemic as it wanted to ramp up its COVID-19 testing capacity by the end of the month.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/05/20/philippines-opens-swabbing-centers-as-it-eyes-30000-daily-coronavirus-tests-by-end-of-may">Philippines opens swabbing centers as it eyes 30,000 daily coronavirus tests by end of May</a></li></ul><p>Roque said the Philippines also aims to open 66 COVID-19 testing centers nationwide by the end of May.</p><p>As of Sunday, the Philippines has a cumulative 14,035 confirmed COVID-19 cases. This includes 868 deaths, and 3,249 recoveries.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/24/20/philippines-total-covid-19-cases-now-at-14035">Philippines&#x27; total confirmed COVID-19 cases now at 14,035</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED STORY:</strong></div><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/05/22/20/only-13000-are-confirmed-covid-19-patients-in-ph-but-more-than-19000-tested-positive">Only 13,000 are confirmed COVID-19 patients in PH but more than 19,000 tested positive</a></li></ul><div><strong>-- with report from Kristine Sabillo, ABS-CBN News</strong></div>

<p>Malacañang claimed Monday that the Philippines has achieved its target of increasing its coronavirus testing capacity to 30,000 per day but actual COVID-19 tests ran by the government daily remain below 10,000.</p>

Malacañang claimed Monday that the Philippines has achieved its target of increasing its coronavirus testing capacity to 30,000 per day but actual COVID-19 tests ran by the government daily remain below 10,000.

Palace says PH has capacity to run over 30,000 COVID-19 tests daily

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

Palace says PH has capacity to run over 30,000 COVID-19 tests daily

Arianne Merez,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 25, 2020 11:37 AM PHT

|

Updated May 25, 2020 02:31 PM PHT

Read More:

mass testing

coronavirus update

COVID-19 Philippines

testing capacity PH

COVID-19

Philippines testing capacity

Malacañang

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

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.