DSWD to distribute non-prescription medicines to Paeng victims

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo answers queries from members of the media during his visit to Bohol province on Thursday, September 15, 2022. FILE PHOTO / Leo Udtohan of Inquirer Visayas

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will distribute non-prescription medicines to victims of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.

In a situation briefing on Paeng’s effects in Maguindanao, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. learned that many  evacuees have been suffering from coughs and fever at evacuation centers.

“Sir Erwin, siguro pwede nating unahan. ‘Wag na nating antayin ‘yung mga prescribed medicine.

(Sir Erwin, maybe let’s begin with the priorities. Let us not wait for prescribed medicines.)

“Magdala na tayo ‘yung mga simple lang ‘yung mga para sa sipon, para sa ubo, para sa sirang tiyan, all the common ailments that can be used by non-prescription medicines,” Marcos told DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo on Monday.

(Let us bring non-prescription medicines for coughs and colds, stomach ache, and all other common ailments.)

Tulfo agreed with the president’s suggestion.

“We have hygiene kit. We will start the putting up of a health kit like paracetamol, cough syrup, cough tablets pambata (for kids), mga Tempra (fever medicine),” he replied.

Marcos noted that based on government guidelines, the Department of Health (DOH) is responsible for the distribution of medicines.

He also proposed to get a local doctor who will assess what medicines are needed by affected individuals which will then be provided by the DOH.

After the briefing, the president visited victims of Paeng and handed out assistance to them.

To date, the Paeng death toll is at 110. 

The tropical cyclone injured 63 individuals and left 23 people missing.

A total of 741,777 families or over 2.4 million persons were affected by the fury of Paeng, which exited the Philippine area of responsibility on Monday noon.

JPV/abc