MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been invited to a Senate hearing next week amid a senator’s allegation that she conspired with multinational firms to delay the imposition of the maximum retail price (MRP) for essential medicines in the country.

Also invited by the congressional oversight committee headed by Senator Manuel Roxas and Palawan Representative Antonio Alvarez were Executive Eduardo Ermita, senior deputy Executive Secretary Joaquin Lagonera and officials of drug manufacturer Pfizer Philippines.

In a statement, Roxas alleged that Arroyo recently held a close door meeting with multinational companies where they supposedly agreed to delay the imposition of the MRP for 22 essential drugs.

This issue as well as the status of the implementation of the law and the availability and affordability of medicine and testing kits for the Influenza A(H1N1) virus were included in the agenda of the committee.

“We will also appreciate if the Office of the President provides a copy of the duly received letter from the Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque recommending the imposition of the MRP as well as the written update on the status of the same,” said a notice of the meeting dated July 9.

Roxas is reportedly eyeing the presidency in 2010.