GORDON WANTS RP TO ESTABLISH OWN CAPABILITY FOR DISEASE CONTROL, RESEARCH

With further investigations needed to determine the real cause of death of some of the exhumed remains of children who were inoculated with Dengvaxia, Senator Richard J. Gordon underscored the need for the Philippines to build its own capability for disease control and research so safeguard the peoples' health, which is of paramount importance.

During Tuesday's hearing of the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers & Investigations or Blue Ribbon, medical experts also confirmed that due to the country's incapability, some of the tests needed to be done on the tissue samples have to be done abroad.

"What we need to do is to have our own capability. We have to establish our own capability. Hindi pwedeng aasa tayo sa iba. Maglagay tayo ng CDC (Center for Disease Control), yung research institute natin i-upgrade. Dapat hindi tayo nangongopya. Matuto tayo on our own," the Blue Ribbon committee chairman said.

Gordon noted that the Philippines should follow what Japan did when it realized that the armament and technology of Western countries far outclassed theirs. They sent Japanese experts to various Western nations to study new techniques and technology. When they returned to Japan, they started applying and improving what they have learned and came up with their own products until they became the third largest economic entity in the world.

"Ang dami nating magagaling na mga doctor. Kung kulang tayo sa mga gamit, the DOH (Department of Health) should tell us, 'we will build our own CDC and these are the equipment that we will need.' Pupunan namin yan. We have to put money where our mouth is. We have to start thinking lofty things. The Japanese did it," the senator said.

"Even for our military, sinasabi ko yan. But this is also especially needed in health. Apart from education, health is the most important aspect. Kailangan ma-proteksyunan natin ng maayos ang kalusugan ng mga tao," he added.