MANILA — The Department of Health will be releasing the Philippines’ omnibus guidelines on its updated COVID-19 response only after a pilot study on antigen testing.

“Kahapon nag-present kami sa IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19) regarding the protocol natin for this pilot use of the antigen (testing) in this city (Baguio) here in the country,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during a virtual briefing.

(Yesterday we presented to the IATF regarding our protocol for the pilot use of the antigen in this city here in the country. )

“Ito ay naaprubahan. Ito ay uumpisahan na,” she added. “Pagkatapos natin makuha itong ebidensya sa pilot use na ito, natin nang pwedeng ilabas itong omnibus guidelines natin.”

(It was approved. It will soon start. After we get the evidence from the pilot use, we can release the omnibus guidelines.)

The DOH has been mentioning the release of the omnibus guidelines for testing and other measure since August but its release was further delayed when the World Health Organization released its advise on how to use antigen testing.

While the rapid antigen test is said to be better than the rapid antibody test, it is not as accurate as polymerase chain reaction test, the gold standard for COVID-19 testing. However, antigen testing is faster and less expensive. The WHO said antigen tests are not recommended for border screening, which was the initial plan of the Philippine government.

• READ: PH omnibus guidelines for COVID-19 delayed as WHO disapproves antigen tests for border screening

Baguio City has been identified as the site of the pilot use study for antigen testing.

Vergeire emphasized that the omnibus guidelines will cover the government’s different COVID-19 response strategies.

“This is for testing and detection and then isolation and quarantine. And of course management,” she said. “This will be a whole document where all of these updated strategies will be included.”