Cheaper Meds: USec Anthony Golez Says MRP Stands 4 "Mar Roxas for President" — "Pahaba nang Pahaba Ilong ni Spokesman Golez," Replies Senator Roxas

14 July 2009

Deputy Presidential spokesman Anthony Golez faces off this morning with Senator Mar Roxas on the issue of the Executive Order on MRP (Maximum Retail Price) which Senator Mar Roxas wants the President to sign as early as possible. 

According to USec Golez, "MRP" stands for "Mar Roxas for President."  Sabi naman ni Senator Roxas, "Alam mo Igan, naaawa ako kay spokesman Golez ... pahaba nang pahaba yung kanyang ilong. Ang importante dito may pagkakataon sa kamay ng Pangulo na maibaba niya ang presyo ng gamot... Di na kailangang maghintay ng ten days."

Here is Senator Mar Roxas, USec Anthony Golez and Igan Arnold Clavio in One-on-One with Igan in Unang Hirit courtesy of GMANews.tv:

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

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Senate Roxas Vows to Unmask "Conspiracy" vs Cheap Meds Law as Oversight Committee on Quality Affordable Medicine Summons PGMA Herself on the Issue

13 July 2009

Senator Roxas continues to pursue his advocacy on cheaper medicine as he urges Mrs. Arroyo to proceed with the much-delayed signing of the Executive Order that will impose Maximum Retail Prices (MRP) for 22 essential medicines. 

The Senate Oversight Committee on Quality Affordable Medicines will look into this issue in a Senate hearing at 9am today and also into what Senator Roxas called a "secret meeting" last July 8 in Malacañang pointing to what he sees is a "conspiracy" between palace officials and giant pharmaceutical firms. 

Below is the full text of the press release issued by the Office of Senator Roxas yesterday, July 12:

Press Release
July 12, 2009

ROXAS VOWS TO UNMASK 'CONSPIRACY' VS CHEAP MEDS LAW

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today vowed to unmask the 'conspiracy' among giant pharmaceutical companies and the government, as he pressed President Arroyo to sign the executive order imposing Maximum Retail Prices (MRP) for 22 essential medicines.

Roxas, co-chair of the Quality Affordable Medicines Oversight committee, has invited the President and her men, as well as representatives of multinational pharmaceutical companies, to attend a hearing on Monday to shed light on their 'secret meeting' last July 8 held at Malacañang.

"Mahalagang malaman natin kung ano ang napagkasunduan sa miting na ito. Isang taon na ang nakalipas ngunit hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin naipatutupad ang Cheaper Medicines law. May kinalaman ba rito ang pagpupulong na ito?" asked the primary author of the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines law.

"Matagal nang hinihintay ng ating mga kababayan ang pangako ng pamahalaan na ibaba ang presyo ng mga gamot. Ano na ang nangyari sa pangakong ito, napako na naman ba?" he asked.

He noted the Department of Health has transmitted to the Office of the President the executive order that would bring down the prices of 22 essential drugs by half as early as June 16. President Arroyo has yet to sign the executive order.

The oversight panel would inquire, among others, into details of the July 8 meeting, status of the EO and updates on the implementation of the law, the emergence of marketing discount schemes of drug companies and the availability and affordability of medicines and diagnostic kits for A(H1N1) influenza.

Roxas said he would get into the bottom of what seems to be a 'conspiracy' to circumvent the application of the one-year old law.

In particular, he would like to find out if the delay in the EO's signature is the direct result of the July 8 meeting. No less than Trade Secretary Peter Favila had confirmed the meeting and had admitted the MRP was the central agenda of the discussions.

"Ano pa ba ang hinihintay ni GMA at ayaw pa rin niyang pirmahan itong EO na ito? Halos isang buwan na itong nag-iipon ng alikabok sa kanyang mesa," the Visayan senator said.

"Ang daming oras na nasayang. Ang laking ginhawa na sana ang naibigay natin sa mga kababayan natin kung pinirmahan agad ang E.O.," he said.

Some of these drugs whose prices will be halved are the anti-hypertensive Norvasc (to P22.50 from the present P44.50), anti-diabetic Diamicron (to P7.35 from P14.75), antibiotic Augmentin suspension 60 ml (to P179.50 from P359), among others.

Aside from President Arroyo, also invited to attend Monday's oversight committee hearing are Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Health Secretary Francisco Duque, DTI Secretary Peter Favila, Budget Secretary Ronaldo Andaya, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Joaquin Lagonera and officials of pharmaceutical firms.

The oversight panel will also inquire into the affordability and availability of medicines and testing kits for A(H1N1).

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Senator Mar Roxas Asks PGMA to Attend Affordable Medicines Oversight Panel Probe — "Baka Nagkaroon ng Aregluhan ... Sabwatan" — "Makakarma Rin Sila!"

10 July 2009

TV Patrol tonight showed Senator Mar Roxas questioning President Arroyo's apparent "refusal to implement a vital provision of the law that reduces by half prices of 22 essential medicines."  

This is the press release from Senator Roxas straight from the Senate website:

Press Release
July 10, 2009

ROXAS ASKS GMA TO ATTEND OVERSIGHT PANEL PROBE 
RESIST PHARMA LOBBY VS CHEAP MEDS

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today announced that he invited President Arroyo to attend and explain before the Quality Affordable Medicines Oversight Committee her refusal to implement a vital provision of the law that reduces by half prices of 22 essential medicines.

The President will also be asked to shed light into reports that pharmaceutical companies have brought their lobbying against the implementation of the Cheaper Medicines law on the doorsteps of Malacañang; particularly the provision on Maximum Retail Prices (MRP) of medicines.

"Ginang Pangulo, gawin niyo po ang inyong trabaho. Pirmahan niyo na po itong executive order" that would impose the MRP on, and slash by half the prices of, the country's top 22 prescribed but costly medicines, he said.

"Sa kadahilanan nga na nagkaroon ng miting dun sa Malakanyang at hindi natin alam kung ano ang napag-usapan�baka nagkaroon ng aregluhan, baka nagkaroon ng sabwatan kung ano na ang mangyayari dito sa batas�nagtakda tayo ng oversight committee hearing dito po sa pagpapatupad nitong batas," he also said.

The oversight committee had transmitted a notice of invitation to President Arroyo requesting her or her representative to attend to shed light on her alleged meeting with representatives of multinational drug companies held last July 8 in Malacañang.

He said: "Para malaman po natin ang katotohanan: paano nangyari itong miting na nito? Sino ang humingi nitong miting na ito? Kelan hiningi itong miting na ito at kelan pinag-bigyan, bakit nagkaroon agad ng schedule itong miting na ito? Makikita natin sa mga record. Malalaman natin ngayon kung ang gobyerno ba ay tumatayo para sa interest natin o tumatayo para sa interest nitong malalaking kumpanya na ito."

The Visayan senator had earlier lambasted what seems to be a conspiracy between the government and giant drug manufacturing firms to circumvent the implementation of the year-old law, which would bring relief to the public through easy access to cheaper but quality medicines.

Citing highly reliable sources, Roxas had exposed the "confidential meeting" and urged the Chief Executive to be wary of presidential advisers whose personal conflicts of interest might compromise her.

"Nanawagan ako sa Pangulo: Huwag po kayong makinig diyan. Nagla-lobby lang po ang mga iyan. Huwag po kayong makinig sa mga adviser ninyo, nagla-lobby lang po iyan. Panigan po ninyo, tayuan po ninyo, tindigan po ninyo, ang interest ng ating mga kababayan," he appealed to President Arroyo.

He vowed: "Hindi ko bibitiwan itong isyu na ito. Nasa batas na ito. Ang tagal na nating ipinaglaban ito. Ngayong nasa batas na ito, wala ng dahilan kung bakit hindi na mangyari ito kung hindi na lang iyong kagustuhan ng pangulo."

Senator Mar Roxas' parting shot, "Makakarma rin sila."

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Senator Mar Roxas Formally Asks Permission from Sanchez Family to Marry Korina in the Traditional Filipino Custom of Pamanhikan

15 June 2009

With the entire Roxas-Araneta clan in tow, Senator Mar Roxas formally asked the traditional permission from the family of her bride-to-be, Korina Sanchez, to marry the lady star broadcaster of ABS-CBN.  This is what is known in Filipino culture as pamahinkan or pamamanhikan.

More on this development in these reports courtesy of GMANews.tv:

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

This is the ABS-CBN report filed by Gretchen Malalad via kyte.tv:

Actress Rosa Rosal is sure to be one of the wedding sponsors while Kris Aquino's Baby James will be the ring bearer.

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Photos of Platinum Plans and Legacy Pre-Need Industry Victims and of Dubai Bus Drivers and their Families Who Sought Assistance of the Senate

8 June 2009

Below are photos I took in the Senate of the victims of the pre-need industry fiasco in the Philippines and of Dubai bus drivers and their families.  

The two Senate hearings were conducted by the committees of Senator Mar Roxas and Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

Pre-Need Industry Victims and SEC Officials 

Attending the Senate Committee Hearing

Chaired by Senator Mar Roxas

May 28, 2009

Assisted by the Ople Policy Center,

Dubai Bus Drivers & Their Families 

Victims of Recruitment and Lending Scams 

Attending the Senate Hearing Chaired

By Senator Jinggoy Estrada

June 3, 2009

 

Our nation are hurting and our people need help.  The SEC, for the first time, has shown encouraging signs of heeding my suggestion of holding a pre-need industry conference to find long-term solutions to the problems besetting the industry and short-term ones that may give some  relief to distressed planholders and beneficiaries.  

The collapse of big pre-need companies have left many parents who invested in the pension plans and educational plans empty-handed thus jeopardizing the chance to study of millions of Filipino children. The Legacy scandal has rocked the nation and deprived investors of hundreds of millions of pesos in investments. 

There are, if not mistaken, 67 or 68 bus drivers still left stranded in Dubai.  They can't pay the P3.6 million overstaying fees that's been slapped against them by the Dubai government and they don't have money to pay their plane fares back home.  On top of that, the lending company from whom they were made to borrow money to pay placement fee to the recruiter is now running after them.

Let's do all that we can to help our OFWs and the victims of the pre-need industry fiasco in the Philippines.

More on this when I return. (Please drop back again; I'll try to tell more about the stories behind these pictures when I return.)

VIDEO UPDATE

9 June 2009

I've located the ABS-CBN video clip showing the wives of stranded drivers in Dubai seeking the help of our government for their quick return home. The bus drivers and their families here are being assisted by the Ople Policy Center.  

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Barin Should Resign! Philip Piccio Should Be Next SEC Chairman

23 April 2009

I just stumbled upon the following April 20 ABS-CBN TV Patrol news video at kyte.tv wherein it now appears that SEC Chairman Fe Barin was simply compelled to disclose the existence of its revocation order of the pre-need license of Prudentialife Plans because of questioning by Senator Mar Roxas. 

Asked what the SEC should do, Philip Piccio, the fighting President of the PEP Coalition blurted out: 

I-reveal!  So that people will know!  For those na mga nagbabayad pa, tumigil na sila ng bayad.  Di ba?  Hindi yung palala pa nang palala o palubog pa sila nang palubog.  

Chairman Fe Barin does not have the interest of millions of  pre-need planholders at heart.  She should resign from her post as SEC Chairman and the other SEC Commissioners should go along with her.  The sooner they go, the better!

Our candidate for next SEC Chairman?  Philip Piccio!  

Go Philip, go!

  

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The Office of Sen. Mar Roxas Shows Concern For the Monumento

5 March 2009

This morning, I was pleasantly surprised to notice an email in my inbox whose subject reads: "re: Feedback from Sen. MAR."  The short message reads:

"Hi. Please see attached files.  We would appreciate confirmation of receipt."  

The attached files consist of three (3) letters sent in PDF format.  Clicking on any of the images below produces an enlarged copy:

Letter to LRTA Administrator, Melquiades A. Robles:

Letter to Caloocan City Mayor Enrico "RECOM" Echiverri

Letter to MMDA Gen. Mgr. Roberto Nacianceno

For expressing interest and concern in the ongoing desecration of the Bonifacio Monument, and for sending referral letters to responsible officials of our government encouraging them to promptly respond directly to me, copy furnished his office, thanks to Sen. Mar Roxas!  Thanks as well to Atty. Blas James G. Viterbo, Sen. Roxas' Chief of Staff, who actually signed the three referral letters in behalf of the Senator.

I'd say a good job, so far, from the office of Mr. Palengke.    

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