A drugstore at a mall in Mandaluyong had long queues for flu medicines amid the rising flu and COVID-19 cases in the country. Photo from Lyn Habunal
MANILA, Philippines — Manufacturers have assured that they are replenishing their stock of paracetamol in drugstores this week, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said Wednesday.
“In-assure tayo na maraming stock, it’s just a matter of replenishing lang po ulit [We were assured that there is enough stock, it’s just a matter of replenishing it],” Lopez said in an interview over Teleradyo.
“Ang report ho samin nagumpisa naman silang mag-delivery na, itong linggo na ito… Yung ibang stores sinasabi, their deliveries are coming in [The report we received is that they are starting deliveries this week… Some stores are saying that their deliveries are coming in],” he added.
According to Lopez, manufacturers told the DTI that demand for certain brands of paracetamol increased after the New Year holiday.
“Dumagsa yung demand after the New Year at hindi nila inaasahan yung pagdagsa ng demand mula January 1 at ang normal inventory sa mga tindahan, talagang normal level lang. Hindi nakahanda sa dagsa ng demand, kaya ho talagang nagkaroon ng mga out of stock,” he said.
(There was a surge in demand after the New Year and they did not expect this rise in demand by January 1 and the normal inventory in stores are the usual normal level. They were not ready for the surge in demand. That’s why there were brands that were out of stock.)
The DTI chief, meanwhile, asked the public not to panic and to avoid hoarding medicines for flu-like symptoms.
“Huwag mag-panic ang ating mga kababayan. Siguro ‘wag nila pakyawin, bili lang sila nung pangangailangan [I call on the public not to panic. Don’t hoard and just buy the amount that is needed],’ he said.
“In-assure sa atin ng mga manufacturer mismo, lalo na kung ang hinahanap yung mga nabanggit niyo na sikat na brands…in-assure tayong may supply dahil dito mina-manufacture yan so wala hong problema,” he added.
(We were assured by the manufacturers themselves, especially those manufacturing famous brands…they assured that there is supply, the medicines are manufactured here that’s why there is no problem with supply.)