Ayala group turns over new COVID-19 lab to Marinduque

7 May 2021 – The Ayala group of companies officially turned over to Marinduque the province’s  first and only molecular lab which is expected to drastically cut down the current 7 to 14 day  waiting period for Covid testing done through Manila-based laboratories.  

Housed within the Marinduque Provincial Hospital in the municipality of Boac, the laboratory was  designed and constructed under the supervision of AC Health and Ayala Foundation, with the  assistance of Makati Development Corporation, the construction arm of Ayala Land Inc.  

Since the pandemic started, Marinduque depended on laboratories in Metro Manila, particularly  the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, to confirm COVID-19 cases. Because of the relative  isolation of the island province and its distance from testing laboratories, cases often took over  a week or more to confirm, which posed a challenge to local efforts to contain the spread of the  virus. Once operational, the new molecular laboratory will significantly improve and speed up  the testing capacity of the province.  

The new facility was received by Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. in a virtual turnover  event. Representing the Ayala group were Paolo Borromeo, President and CEO of AC Health; Ruel  Maranan, President of Ayala Foundation; and Solomon Hermosura, Chief Legal Officer of Ayala  Corporation.  

The Marinduque molecular laboratory is part of the Ayala group’s continuing initiatives that sup port the public sector’s COVID-19 efforts, particularly in improving testing capacity. In the past  year Ayala constructed laboratories and quarantine facilities, provided testing equipment, and  donated testing kits, among others.  

“This molecular laboratory is a very vital tool for Marinduque to be able to contain and eventually  defeat the very deadly virus,” said Gov. Velasco. “We were very glad [when the proposal] to set  up the molecular laboratory was relayed to us. Now we have the laboratory constructed. Indeed  this is a very important step in our plan to contain and eventually rid the province of the deadly  virus.”  

“AC Health and the Ayala Group are delighted to partner with the Province of Marinduque,” said  Borromeo. “Testing is a vital component of the country's public health response, and we are  happy to support Marinduque's initiatives to improve access to testing. We believe that the pub lic and private sectors must work together to beat this virus, save lives, and accelerate recovery.” 

“It is our privilege to partner with the Provincial Government of Marinduque for meaningful and  relevant initiatives like the molecular laboratory project, as well as various education and com munity programs,” said Maranan. “We continue to stand with the people of Marinduque, as they  stay resilient in the face of various challenges.”  

Aside from constructing the molecular laboratory, the Ayala group also provided various forms  of assistance for students, teachers, and health front-liners in Marinduque in the past month. 

Under the Brigada ng Ayala program, Ayala Foundation distributed at least 675 hygiene kits, 100  Globe Home Prepaid WiFI kits, and 4,000 children’s books (from a donation by UBS Securities  Philippines.), to be used by students and teachers from Boac Central School and 10 public ele mentary schools in the town of Torrijos. Teachers and students also received vitamin supple ments. Brigada ng Ayala is the Ayala group’s unified support for the Department of Education’s  Brigada Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela programs.  

The foundation also turned over 1,250 face masks and 250 personal protective equipment (PPEs)  for use by health front-liners at the Marinduque Provincial Hospital.  

In addition, the town of Torrijos is one of the sites for ProFuturo, a digital education program  implemented in the Mimaropa region by Ayala Foundation. ProFuturo, which is implemented in  10 public elementary schools in Marinduque, uses digital technology to provide access to quality,  transformational, and universal education, and through it, access to equal opportunities for students. It focuses on enhancing teachers’ skills, methods, and competencies, and leveraging on  digital technologies.  

For more information:  

YLA ALCANTARA
Head, Brand and Reputation Management
Ayala Corporation
e-mail – alcantara.ypg@ayala.com

CELERINA AMORES
Senior Director, Corporate Communications 
Ayala Foundation
e-mail - amores.cr@ayalafoundation.org