Mar Roxas calls for more
“Botika Ng Bayan”
SENATOR Manuel Roxas III urged the Dagupan government to set up more Botika ng Bayan outlets to make cheaper but effective medicines available to the city’s poor and growing elderly population.
Speaking before Dagupan’s senior citizens led by their president Felipe Siapno, Roxas said the Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 which he authored jointly with Senator Pia Cayetano, serves as the first step towards providing the people with access to more affordable medicines.
The law enforces price ceilings to certain medicines and the President, upon the recommendation of the Department of Health, is empowered to ensure compliance
Roxas cited Norvasc (10mgm), a maintenance drug for hypertension, now being sold at P74.75 in drugstores can be bought for only P37 at Botika ng Bayan stores.
The senior citizens hailed the law but lamented that there are not enough Botika ng Bayan outlets and the existing ones do not have enough supply to meet demand.
The forum was also attended by Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez and Councilor Alfredo Quinto Sr., chair of the Office of Senior Citizens Association (OSCA).
Roxas also reiterated calls for vigilance against moves for a Charter Change, saying there are renewed efforts by President Gloria Arroyo’s allies in Congress to revive Cha-cha through Constituent Assembly.
While in Dagupan, Roxas paid courtesy calls on Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. and Archbishop Oscar Cruz of the Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese before proceeding to Lingayen to meet with 2nd District Rep. Victor Agbayani.—LM
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