To procure test kits needed for coronavirus response, the mayor of Dagupan City in Pangasinan decided to donate 8 months worth of his salary.
Mayor Brian Lim said he decided to use his salary to pay for 1,000 units of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) rapid anti-body test kits (RATK).
“The test kits, which have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, are sold commercially at about P1,000 each, costing Mayor Lim about P1 million, the equivalent of his salary for eight months,” he said.
Though RATK results are not confirmatory, Lim said the city government will be better equipped in making strategic decisions and exercising other precautionary health measures in dealing with patients.
“The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests, which detects the actual presence of the virus, is still the “gold standard” in testing for COVID-19,” he added.
According to the Department of Health, the RATK can only detect the presence of antibodies produced by a person to fight the virus and can only be used as an additional tool after a PUI has completed the 14-day quarantine and is discharged from a health facility.
The chief executive added that he has instructed the city’s COVID-19 focal person to use the test kits in accordance with the protocols from the health department.
As of April 8, Dagupan City has 6 confirmed cases of COVID-19 including one death and three recoveries.
