Randy David in his Philippine Daily Inquirer column Public Lives wrote A world without Filipinos which also mentioned Ai-Maghlooth. He quoted from the essay, "Nobody here can think of a life without Filipinos... We could die a slow death if they chose to leave us." This could be true. I digress... Speaking of death, I wish greedy and self-centered traditional politicians in the Philippines, especially those with "cash cow mentality", would die not only a slow death but a painful one at that!

I have been campaigning against the "cash cow mentality" (read On Milking the Cash Cow) of government officials in the Philippines. OFWs are being depended upon as cash cows. Bagong Bayani daw!!! In truth, the government has been juicing the fruit of OFW labor for years, setting up more and more remittance schemes here and there yet efforts and long-term programs to entice OFWs to return home are minimal if not nil.

I firmly believe that leaving the country to become an OFW could never ever be right. The government should not be contented with the billions of dollars in annual remittances by OFWs. The government should be held liable for OFWs who suffer discrimination, who are abused and who are murdered in foreign lands. The government should shape up and find ways to stop the Filipino diaspora. Otherwise, it is tantamount to committing crime against the people who they should be serving in the first place. The country has more to loose than gain by sending off its precious human resource abroad. I quote Prof. David,

"...[Foreign employers] single out Filipino workers for their skill, their tenderness and their loyalty. But they do not see the human being that performs all these services and possesses all these traits. They do not see the families these workers have left behind, the relationships they have put on hold because of migration, and the experience of humiliation and helplessness they often go through as virtual exiles in strange lands. Away from their loved ones and circle of intimates, their lives tend to be bare. Wrenched from the culture that is their medium, their identities tend to wither.

They help maintain and reproduce the social systems that host them, but these societies do little to integrate them as members. Their service is needed, but not their person, or-to be more precise-not the cultural practices that reproduce them as individuals with identities of their own.
A world without Filipinos may seem unimaginable to those nations whose lives have been greatly enriched by their presence. But, impossible as it may be, a world that allows every Filipino to take his loved ones along wherever he may choose to work would be a far richer world. Better still, a Philippine society that affords every Filipino the chance to grow and to use his talents without having to leave his country would be a far richer society."

Now, what kind of government would allow the sons and daughters of the its country to toil in foreign land and rejoice in the bounty of their remittances? So sad. Very bad! Incompetent!

STOP MILKING THE CASH COW!!!

Typhoon Frank (Fengshen) ravaged the Philippines today. At least 80 people were confirmed dead as of posting but this number is expected to rise. A Sulpicio Lines passenger ship, MV Princess of the Stars, with more than 700 passengers capsized off Romblon. As soon as I read the news by sms from the Philippines, I hurriedly booted my notebook to check the PAGASA website and verify the typhoon status. PAGASA is the acronym for Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. PAGASA coincidentally means HOPE in the Filipino vernacular. The government office is supposed to be the forecasting authority in times of calamities such as typhoons, earthquakes and tsunamis in the country.

My jaw dropped when the laptop screen gave me this:

It read: "The connection has timed out/The server at www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph is taking too long to respond...Try Again."

So I did try again, and again and again and again and again and again... After the nth refresh, I finally succeeded. The PAGASA site announced:

---------------

Public Storm Warning Signals elsewhere now lowered.

Residents in low lying areas and near mountain slopes under typhoon signals are advised to take all the necessary precautions against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under signals 2 and 3 are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this typhoon.

Typhoon "Frank" will continue to enhance the Southwest Monsoon and bring rains over the Western sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

The public and the disaster coordinating councils concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 5:00 p.m. today.

---------------

How vague can a weather warning get? Where is elsewhere? What do "take all necessary precautions" and "take appropriate actions" mean? What should people do to make it "appropriate"?

I can't help but compare PAGASA with its counterpart in Hong Kong, the HK Observatory. It is super hot here today. The HK Observatory through its website warned:

---------------

VERY HOT WEATHER WARNING

Very Hot Weather Warning

The Very Hot Weather Warning is now in force.

The Hong Kong Observatory is forecasting very hot weather
in Hong Kong tomorrow. The risk of heatstroke is high.

When engaged in outdoor work or activities, do drink plenty
of water and avoid over exertion. If not feeling well, take
a rest in the shade or cooler place as soon as possible.

People staying indoors without air-conditioning should keep
windows open as far as possible to ensure that there is
adequate ventilation.

The Hong Kong Observatory advises that prolonged exposure
under sunlight is to be avoided. Loose clothing, suitable
hats and UV-absorbing sunglasses can reduce the chance of
sunburn by solar ultraviolet radiation.

Swimmers and those taking part in outdoor activities should
use a sunscreen lotion of SPF 15 or above, and should
re-apply it frequently.

---------------

Now, that is very specific! People are instructed about what to do and what not to do. The advisory even gives suggestion to swimmers: use SPF 15 sunscreen lotion! My God, we have a killer typhoon in the Philippines. More than 80 are dead (and counting)... More than 20 typhoons hit the country every year, yet PAGASA can only advise to "TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION!!!"

---------------

Read similar post at duskfading's blog

The Philippine Central Bank reports an expected increase of about 10% in total cash remittances by OFWs from last year. Total remittance for 2008 will be around $16.45 billion; a real boost for the country despite the global economic slowdown.

Bad News

New illegal migrant rules in the European Union will affect more than 94,000 irregular OFWs. They will face expulsion, detention of up to 18 months and/or a five-year re-entry ban.

Questions

What will the Philippine government do to help OFWs facing expulsion from the EU? Will they always be quick on the math with regards to remittances yet slow in formulating action plans for OFWs in distress? WHEN WILL THE MILKING STOP?

References:

http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20080621-143956/Central-bank-sees-08-OFW-remittances-at-1645B

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080620-143800/New-EU-rules-may-affect-94000-irregular-OFWs-in-Europe

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7460007.stm

I recently transferred to a new home here in Hong Kong. My wife and I were so excited to move because this is our first house as a couple. I did not mind doing some wall repainting by myself. In fact, I enjoyed it. This is me happily painting a portion of our kitchen wall.

With two rooms, a large living room, a spacious toilet, and a comfortable tub, the flat is perfect for us. Even better, I get to see the Westrail train pass by every 15 minutes or so. I developed this habit of staring at the speeding coaches with the trademark red and blue colors of the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) Corporation. Can't explain why, but it relaxes me the way fishes calmly swimming in a glass aquarium do. My wife agrees 100%. I could stare all day and not get bored. It gets even better at night when the coaches are fully lighted.

Here is the view of the tracks from my kitchen window.

This makes me wonder about fellow Filipinos who squat near railroad tracks.

Do they also like seeing PNR trains go by?

What is our government doing to help them?

...we need long-term solutions, not quick fixes! Current government relocation efforts are superficial.

...more photos and insights by Sidney Snoeck at My Sarisari Store

Come to think of it, the good man has a strong point. I am a bit ashamed---being a registered pharmacist myself---to have accepted this slap from doctors who do not want to let go of their source of "perks!!!" On the contrary, knowing these market savvy drug firms, what guarantee would we have that the "generics only" clause, in case it was included in the signed bill, would not cause a shift to a "detailman-pharmacist unholy alliance?" Perhaps that is why doctors were against it in the first place. They do not want to transfer or share the pharma booty with their supposed partners in healthcare.

Doctors also argued that it is wrong to require them to write generic names only because it is their ethical obligation to prescribe which drug they think is best for the patient. This sort of medical professionals continue to get around the ‘Generics Law of 1988' by preaching their "branded-is-best" mindset. This is another reason why the growth of local generic manufacturers is hampered. Now I ask, can they really ensure their patient's welfare by writing down the name of a branded product in a piece of paper? The bill does not make it illegal to verbally advise a patient to buy a certain brand, does it? Will this matter to a poor person who can't even afford rice to feed his/her family? Is writing the brand name in the prescription a sort of documentary evidence needed by their big time pharmaceutical sponsors? Alas, I wish I was a doctor so that I would know the answers to these questions.

Ricelander's remarks on my previous post "Quality Affordable Medicines; Now!" were also true. The country needs a working local pharmaceutical industry. We are mere compounders of IMPORTED raw materials and repackers of IMPORTED finished bulk drug products! India and China, like western countries, have long been producing their own active ingredients and excipients. In fact, the Philippines currently sources a significant amount of its pharmaceutical raw material requirements from these two countries. How come we can't even manufacture pharmaceutical grade sodium chloride when the Philippines, being an archipelagic nation, has vast supplies of salt? We can also obtain dextrose from the ubiquitous cassava but no one is interested in exploring that on an industrial scale. Something is amiss. Government support in creating an environment suitable for the development of real local pharmaceutical businesses is next to nil.

Thus, in the long run, despite gains from this venerable bill, the local generic drug industry in the country could still be facing tremendous difficulties. Yes, drug prices will have gone down but what about the 'new competition'? Some Indian companies, for example, have found a new "goldmine of opportunities" with the passing of the cheaper medicines act. We can expect more and more cheaper India-made drugs flooding the Philippine market soon. Now, where are the local generic manufacturers in that picture? The effects of parallel importation will be beneficial for now. But, when the playing field with the western multinationals is finally leveled, how will we fare in the generics game with great India, not to mention humongous China? We see mainland China products all over the Philippines nowadays, from food to clothing to mobile phones to plastic toys. Will cheaper priced China-made generic drugs make it to Philippine soil as well? Will the raw-material-importing Philippine drug industry survive the battle for the local markets against India and China?

I have so many questions and doubts... Oh well, with the type of leaders in our country right now, we can't really have it all. Let's just celebrate with the passage of this important bill... for the time being.

References:

http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2008/0430_roxas1.asp

http://www.gov.ph/news/?i=20797

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080429-133435/UPDATE-Congress-ratifies-cheaper-medicines-bill

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20080502-134017/Generics-war-Who-won-who-lost

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/letterstotheeditor/view/20080502-134019/Vested-interests-win-in-cheap-medicines-bill

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/editorial/view/20080430-133514/Just-DOH-it

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080502-134081/Villar-doubts-cheap-medicines-bill-will-work

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Business/India_Business/Indian_pharma_may_export_to_Philippines_/articleshow/3010252.cms

However, there are still two versions of the bill: House Bill 2844 and Senate Bill 1658. I find the senate version more diplomatic and safe while the house bill includes more drastic measures. For example, HB 2844 proposes the creation of a "Drug Price Regulation Board" which will dictate the maximum retail price of drugs subject to price regulation. SB 1658 on the other hand, "bestows on the President of the Philippines the power to impose price ceilings...under certain conditions, including calamities, public health emergencies, or widespread acts of illegal price manipulation." Moreover, HB 2844 calls for the prescription of "generic name" only. This means that doctors will not be allowed to write the "brand name" of a drug in the prescription form if the house bill is approved.

The Congress, Senate and Malacañang are currently on a dialogue regarding the reconciliation of the two bills. The "price regulation board" and "generics only" provisions would be dropped probably. This move would definitely disappoint certain groups like the "Kilosbayan Para Sa Kalusugan" (KBK). The KBK feels that proposed amendments are still protective of the profits of transnational drug firms.

This is true perhaps, but I still support the bill because of the following articles:

1. Parallel importation and international exhaustion of intellectual property rights for patents - Importation of much lower priced identical drugs without the consent of the patent holder will be allowed.
2. Early working - This will allow Filipino generic companies to study and test for regulatory approval of a generic version of a drug before its patent expires. Thus, they can start the manufacture and marketing of a generic drug as soon as its patent expires.
3. Government Use - In certain conditions, like "a national emergency", the government may use a patent without the consent of the patent holder for the benefit of the public.
4. Strengthening of the Bureau of Food and Drugs - The bureau will be allowed to retain earnings for use in its operations.
5. Amendments to the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines - Changes in the IP code to prevent multinationals from exploiting the Philippine patent system.

I know that it is no easy task to pass a bill and that it requires in-depth analysis and consultation. Thus, the process is understandably lengthy and arduous; but I believe we can no longer dilly-dally given the increasing population and worsening conditions of the impoverished in the country. So, to our beloved legislators, PLEASE HURRY UP!!!

References and recommended readings:

http://www.pcij.org/stories/2008/cheaper-medicines.html

http://www.bulatlat.com/2007/12/cheaper-medicine-bill-still-no-access-low-cost-essential-medicine

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/90745/Bicam-group-inching-towards-final-version-of-cheaper-drugs-bill

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080424-132435/Solons-mull-removing-price-board-from-cheaper-medicines-bill