Guam’s plans for a modern public health infrastructure reached a major milestone this week as government leaders celebrated the topping off of the new Guam Public Health Training and Biosafety Laboratory in Mangilao. The ceremony, held Thursday, marked the completion of the Double T roofing installation — a key step signaling that the building’s main structure is now in place.
The $38.6 million project is funded through a $32 million congressional appropriation to the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation and $6.6 million from the Office of the Governor. Construction costs total $29.5 million, with completion projected for June 2026. Once finished, the 16,000-square-foot facility will be operated by the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) and feature Guam’s first Biosafety Level 3 laboratory, allowing for advanced local testing and faster emergency response.
Governor Lou Leon Guerrero praised the project as a sign of “progress in action,” crediting collaboration with federal partners while criticizing what she described as obstruction from the Legislature and Attorney General’s Office. “This is proof of what we can achieve when we work together,” she said. “We could be further along with our hospital if we had the same level of cooperation and support.”
DPHSS Director Theresa Arriola said the new laboratory will strengthen Guam’s health security and regional readiness. “We are not just building a laboratory — we are building capacity, confidence, and a stronger foundation for the health of Guam and the Pacific,” Arriola said. The facility will also serve as a regional training center, equipping laboratory professionals across Micronesia with skills in biosafety, diagnostics, and laboratory management.
