DAVAO CITY- Authorities no longer have to send DNA samples to Manila for testing following the opening of the first DNA laboratory in Mindanao here.

Modern DNA testing equipment is now made available in President Rodrigo Duterte's hometown after the laboratory's inauguration last month.

Complete with a sampling and extraction area, amplification room, and a genetic analyzer, the laboratory can accommodate DNA testing requirements.

The DNA processing costs P20,000 per sample and results will be available after 2 to 3 days.

“No need na to submit the samples to [Camp] Crame...With the recent incident in our country, the Lamitan bombing, DNA examination played a crucial part in the identification of the bombers,” said Chief Supt. Rolando Hinanay, head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) crime laboratory.

DNA processing has been done in the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City for the past years.

Aside from the DNA laboratory, there are also bullet comparison microscopes for firearms identification, ballistic examination and also an automated fingerprint scan for a fingerprint identification system.