Press Release
April 30, 2008

CHEAPER MEDICINES LAW SHOULD NOT GO THE WAY OF OIL DEREGULATION AND EPIRA LAW - CHIZ

Senator Chiz Escudero today expressed relief with the passing of the cheaper medicines bill yesterday, saying that this act provides Filipinos with a window of opportunity for medicines that are already within well their means. In supporting the passage of the bill, he at the same time called on his fellow lawmakers and all the bill's stakeholders to be vigilant in seeing through the bill's mandate.

Escudero said while the bill hurdled both houses of Congress, the job does not end there but should all the more continue. "When we voted for the cheaper medicines bill, we have in mind medicine security for all Filipinos. It is the very intent of Congress to use this bill as a tool to bring down the cost of medicines in this country".

Medicine security, added Escudero is like food security. Its efficacy is three-pronged: affordability, availability and reliability. "These three packages should be felt and experienced by all Filipinos in a sustained and continuous mode. There should be no let up in seeing the promises of the bill come to pass".

He warned everyone not to let the cheaper medicines bill follow in the footsteps of the Oil Deregulation Law and the Epira Law which both failed to deliver on its respective mandates. "When these two bills were passed, the promises were to bring the price of petroleum and power down, respectively. Years after, we eat and breathe unabated oil and power rate hikes. Let us not allow cheaper medicines bill go this way. It will be strike for us if we let this happen. Only a vigilant and prudent public can see this bill through". Escudero did not vote for the passing of Epira when he was in Congress.

The senator is also urging the immediate constitution of the congressional oversight committee to ensure that the bill will be implemented true to its mandate.

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