Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte– In relevance with the Consumer Awareness Advocacy with the theme: Makilahok, Makialam, Pekeng Produkto’y Iwasan, Ireport sa Kinauukulan, Kalusuga’y Isaalang-Alang”, the Food and Drug Administration conducted a symposium at Mibang Hotel, Dipolog City on November 12, 2018.
The said event aims to orient, educate, and inform the public including pharmacies and other food companies not only in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, but the entire country as well to be more vigilant and careful with the widespread counterfeiting of medicinal drugs and other pharmaceutical products that has been sold now in the market. And was attended with numerous individuals from the medical field (pharmacists), drug store and company owners.
When asked about the “tingi-tingi” medicines sold in sari-sari stores which appear to be more convenient with most of the consumers, Ms. Jesusa joyce N. Cirunay, Director II, North Luzon Cluster said, “Sari-sari stores are not legitimate distributors of medicines unless they are registered and will register as drug stores or pharmacies and not just rely on their business permits issued by their respective mayors. Wag na wag ninyong tangkilikin ‘yong mga gamut na mabibili n’yo sa mga tinda-tindahan kasi di sila authorized distributors ng mga ito”.
Engr. Annette B. Tan, Director II- Mindanao West Cluster added that they have people and inspectors doing surveillance check on the establishments (micro/macro) reported to be operating illegally and selling medicines. This includes sari-sari stores, drug stores operating without licenses, pharmacies selling prescription drugs without prescriptions, unauthorized medicinal drugs agents, and all violations mentioned in RA 9711 or “Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Act of 2009″.
Ms. Deborah S. Legaspi, Director II- Mindanao East Cluster calls the public to be more vigilant, observant, and be more careful to check if the medicines they have bought are counterfeited. Further, they added that the list of products approved or banned, as well as the tips on how to check if either these medicines are fake or not, are to be found on the FDA official website, www.fda.gov.ph. (Lyza Merille Bautista)
