Residents of Eastern Visayas will no longer need to travel to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila once a Sub-National Reference Laboratory is established in the town of Dulag, Leyte, as reported by Jimmy Angay-Angay.

Department of Health (DOH) Regional Director Exuperia Sabalderino announced the project in an interview, saying the facility was launched during the recent visit of DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa to the area.

According to Sabalderino, the construction of the laboratory is scheduled to begin this year. The project is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and is currently undergoing processing for the required environmental clearances.

The Sub-National Reference Laboratory is expected to strengthen the region’s capacity for disease detection and laboratory testing. It may also be used for water analysis, particularly during disease outbreaks.

The facility will be built near the Super Health Center in Dulag, Leyte.