PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — This city's molecular diagnostic laboratory has received accolades from the Department of Health (DOH) for its outstanding performance in service delivery, earning it recognition as one of the best practices in the Mimaropa region.

City Information Officer Richard Ligad said on Friday that the laboratory and its staff earned this distinction after a thorough selection process and deliberation by the Award Selection Committee. They were lauded for surpassing their expected responsibilities, particularly during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that in a memorandum dated November 14, Undersecretary Nestor Santiago Jr. conveyed the DOH's recognition of the molecular lab's exemplary service delivery as part of the "Presentation of Best Practices."

Ligad stated that Mayor Lucilo Bayron's commitment to fulfilling City Health Office (CHO) chief Dr. Ricardo Panganiban's request to establish Puerto Princesa's own molecular laboratory at the peak of the pandemic.

"The mayor recognized the significance of the laboratory in rapidly conducting COVID-19 tests and providing confirmatory testing and results that can only be achieved through a molecular lab. This allows for the prompt and appropriate medical attention for patients displaying COVID-19 symptoms," he said.

This capability, according to him, ensures timely and appropriate medical attention for individuals exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

In addition to the prestigious Presentation of Best Practices recognition, the molecular laboratory is set to receive a special award for its Quality Assurance Program within the South Luzon region. The formal award presentation is scheduled to take place on 1 December 2023.

Ligad explained that this honor is a direct result of the laboratory's unwavering commitment to adhering to the quality standards established by the DOH for licensed laboratories.

The creation of the laboratory, financed with P26 million from Puerto Princesa's city government, is a "noteworthy achievement of Mayor Bayron's administration in efficiently meeting the healthcare requirements of the city's populace amidst the pandemic."