Senator Manny Pacquiao, presidential candidate for the 2022 elections, speaks in one of his sorties in Rizal. Contributed photo
MANILA, Philippines — PROMDI presidential aspirant Senator Manny Pacquiao has rejected a proposal to restrict small community stores, also known as “sari-sari” stores, from selling over-the-counter drugs for being anti-poor and impractical.
Responding to the call of the Department of Interior Local Government ( DILG) for local government units to restrict “sari-sari” stores from selling over-the-counter medicines without any permit, Pacquiao said this is very impractical for those living in rural areas.
This is also an added burden for small store owners who still have to pay to secure permits.
Pacquiao stressed that “sari-sari” stores are the most accessible source of medicines needed for ordinary ailments like flu, diarrhea, stomach ache, and body pains.
Over-the-counter medicines or nonprescription medicines are medicines that can be bought without a doctor’s prescription.
“Consider natin na hindi lahat ay malapit sa mga drug store. Sa ibang lugar baka sampu hanggang 20 kilometro ang layo ng bayan na kung saan may mga botika, tapos hindi pa lahat 24 hours open,” he pointed out.
“Hindi lahat may sasakyan para umalis patungong bayan to buy medicine sa gabi. Isa pa, karamihan tingi-tingi lang kung bumili kaya baka mas mahal pa yung pamasahe o gasolinang kinonsumo sa bibilhin nilang gamot,” Pacquiao said in describing the actual situation among many poor Filipinos especially those living in the countryside.
The former boxer-turned-legislator opined that regulation and an effective crackdown against smuggling should solve concerns about the alleged proliferation of fake medicines.
As a minimum requirement, Pacquiao said “sari-sari” stores can be required to submit a list of drugs they are selling to their barangays to allow proper monitoring.
Pacquiao said that government should also launch a crackdown against the smuggling of counterfeit medicines and government officials who are protecting these smugglers must be immediately arrested.
“Kailangan nating higpitan ang pagpasok ng mga pekeng gamot at hindi dapat pinapahirapan ang mga malilit na sari-sari stores. Wala namang maititinda na peke kung walang makakapasok sa atin na peke. Kailangan lang nating ma-implement mabuti ang ating generic law nang sa gayon ay maging accessible sa tao ang mga mura ngunit mabisang gamot,” he said.