President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. wants a standard operating procedure (SOP) that would include medicines in relief packages in times of calamities and emergencies following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng last week.
Marcos said this in a situation briefing in Camp Siongco in Maguindanao del Norte on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. The province was one of the hardest hit by the typhoon over the weekend.
In his remarks, the President said the government should provide over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to people affected by calamities since these are the ones they are looking for.
Marcos, in particular, cited OTC drugs, like paracetamol and anti-diarrheal medicines due to the risk of infectious diseases, as among the medicines most sought after by victims of calamities.
"That's one aspect of it na hindi masyadong naaatensyunan. Paano tayo makapag-provide ng gamot (that we haven't paid attention to. How can we provide the medicines)?" he said.
"So let’s put together an SOP for that para may kasama na tayong gamot (medicines would be included)," he added.
The President stressed the importance of also providing maintenance medicines during calamities.
"Simple lang naman. Kasi nakabilad sila (affected residents)... basa sila nang matagal, nilalagnat yung mga bata (It's simple. They're been exposed. They've been drenched for a long time. The kids are running fevers)," he said.
"Yung matatanda, yung mga may maintenance, delikado talaga sila pagka mga one week na silang hindi nag-gagamot (The elderly, those with maintenance meds, they are at risk after a week of not taking meds), it starts to really affect them," he added.