By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Almost 600 food riders from various food delivery operators in Bacolod City will undergo reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests today at the Bacolod Bays Center.

Ernie Pineda, Executive Assistant on Markets, said 10 food delivery operators have coordinated with the city government and have submitted the names of 579 riders which will undergo surveillance testing.

Pineda said they will adopt a pool testing approach, wherein they will conduct the testing batch by batch, and after the test they will be allowed to continue working.

Whoever tests positive will then be contact traced and placed in a quarantine facility.

Pineda said the testing of the riders aims to protect not just the customers but also the clients of the food delivery operators and the families of their co-workers./DGB, WDJ