Marcos to DSWD: Prioritize distribution of medicines in calamity-hit areas

The national government should also prioritize the distribution of medicines to calamity victims, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday.

At a situation briefing in Maguindanao province, Marcos told Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo that medicines for cough, colds, and stomachache should be given to calamity victims aside from food and non-food packs.

The President said he has noticed this problem since he was still governor of Ilocos Norte.

"Siguro pwede natin unahan, 'wag na natin antayin 'yung mga prescribed medicine. Magdala na tayo ng mga, 'yung simple lang, 'yung mga para sa sipon, 'yung para sa ubo, para sa sirang tiyan... you know all the common ailments that can be cured by non prescription medicines," Marcos said.

(Let's not wait for prescribed medicines. Let's bring medicines for colds, cough, and stomachache.)

"So isama na natin 'yung, then we work in coordination with military doctors and medical workers para mabilis. It keeps coming up, hindi pa natin nasagot 'yung challenge na 'yun e. I've been hearing this since I was governor 'yung gamot na nakakalimutan natin makapag-provide," he added.

(Let's include these and work with military doctors and medical workers. This has not been addressed and I've been hearing this issue since I was a governor.)

Tulfo agreed with the President.

"We can start with the, we have a hygiene kit... we have family... we will start putting up a health kit, Mr. President. Like paracetamol, cough syrup, cough tablets pambata (for kids)," Tulfo said.

Marcos also said he could help with making arrangements with pharmaceutical companies when it comes to purchasing these medicines.

"You can already make arrangements, I can help you with that. We can make arrangements with the big drug companies para 'yung bilhin natin in bulk makamura tayo (we can buy in bulk so that it will be cheaper). But we’ll still have to come up an SOP for the prescribed medicines," he said.

Aside from non-prescription medicines, Marcos also stressed the importance of providing maintenance medicines especially to elders. He said this type of drugs should be prescribed or dispensed by the health department, doctors, and pharmacies.

“Pero ‘yung matatanda, ‘yung mga may maintenance, delikado talaga sila pagka mga one week na silang hindi nag-gagamot, it starts to really affect them,” he said.

(It's dangerous for elderlies if they don't take their maintenance medicines even for a week.)

“So let’s put together an SOP for that para may kasama na tayong gamot (so that maintenance medicines will be included),” he added.

Meanwhile, Marcos also said there should be a standard package given to affected families similar to those being distributed by the DSWD.

"So siguro gayahin (you replicate) well, gamitin ninyo ‘yung sa DSWD at saka if you are going to make your own pack—kasi mayroon naman kayong calamity fund na ginagamit—so if you are going to make your own packs, puwede siguro gawin natin na pareho doon sa binibigay ng DSWD (make it similar to what the DSWD has been distributing) because that comes from a long experience na what are the needs of the victims of a calamity like this," he said.

Marcos also led the aid distribution in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte where he gave financial assistance to families who need to rebuild their damaged houses.

"Ininstraksyunan ko na si Secretary Erwin Tulfo, ininstraksyunan ko na siya na imbes na tayo ang magbigay ng construction materials ay bibigyan na lang namin kayo depende P5,000 to P10,000 bawat isa para makapagbili ng construction materials at para makapagpili kayo kung ano ‘yung gusto ninyo, paanong gusto ninyong gawin. Titiyakin natin ‘yan," Marcos said.

(I have instructed Secretary Erwin Tulfo that instead of providing construction materials, we will just give financial aid worth P5,000 to P10,000 so that you can buy the materials of your choice.)

He also said the national government would continue to monitor the families who remain in evacuation centers.

"Patuloy namin susuportahan ‘yan, patuloy—hanggang makauwi, hanggang makabalik sa kani-kanilang bahay ay—at ang naiiwan pa sa mga evacuation center ay iyon ang gagawin namin. We will continue to support. We will continue to provide," Marcos said.

(We will continue to support them until they return to their residences. We will continue to support. We will continue to provide.)

The President visited Maguindanao after it was hit by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng over the weekend. The local government said death toll in the province already climbed to 61.—AOL, GMA News