By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have strengthened the country’s defenses against future disease outbreaks with the inauguration of a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) Infectious Disease Referral Laboratory at the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) in La Union.
The newly completed facility is expected to significantly enhance Region I’s ability to detect, diagnose, and respond to infectious diseases through safe, accurate, and timely laboratory testing, bolstering the country’s overall public health preparedness.
The laboratory is one of only two Biosafety Level 2 facilities constructed nationwide under the ADB-funded Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit (HEAL) COVID-19 Project, which also financed the construction of 13 isolation wards across the country.
The HEAL Project is backed by a USD 125 million (approximately ₱6.3 billion) ADB assistance package approved in 2020 to modernize the Philippine health system through investments in healthcare infrastructure, medical equipment, laboratory services, infection prevention, and workforce development. The ITRMC laboratory was completed at a cost of ₱33.69 million.
DOH Center for Health Development–Ilocos Regional Director Helen D. Tobias said the facility stands as a lasting investment in national health security.
“The challenges brought by COVID-19 taught us that strong health systems save lives. This Biosafety Level 2 Infectious Disease Referral Laboratory reflects our commitment to providing every Filipino with quality, reliable, and timely laboratory services. By strengthening our diagnostic capacity today, we are protecting generations to come,” Tobias said.
ITRMC Medical Center Chief II Dr. Unity M. Cortez described the laboratory as more than just a modern building.
“This facility is a promise that ITRMC will continue to provide safe, responsive, and high-quality healthcare services. Every laboratory result supports timely clinical decisions, strengthens disease surveillance, and helps save lives,” Cortez said.
Designed to meet international Biosafety Level 2 standards, the laboratory provides a secure environment for handling infectious disease specimens while improving disease surveillance and accelerating public health response across Region I and neighboring provinces.
Health officials said the facility marks another major step in ensuring that the country is better equipped to confront future infectious disease threats, underscoring the continuing partnership among the DOH, ADB, ITRMC, and other stakeholders in building a stronger and more resilient Philippine healthcare system.
ia/xf
