ANGARA AT ASPEN PHILIPPINES LAUNCH

Senator Edgardo J. Angara delivers a special message at the official launch of Aspen Philippines, the first unit of Aspen PharmaCare in Asia. Aspen is the largest pharmaceutical company in South Africa, and one of the biggest generics manufacturer in the world.

Dr. Fernando de Castro, Aspen Philippines Medical Director; Dr. Norma Ona, spouse of DOH Sec. Enrique Ona; Senator Edgardo J. Angara; Ambassador Agnes Nyamande-Pitso of South Africa; Mr. Greg Lan, Aspen Australia CEO; Ms. Ace Itchon, Aspen Philippines President and CEO; Mr. Trevor Ziman, Aspen Australia Deputy CEO; Mr. Keith Iu, Aspen Asia Director for Asian Markets; Asec. Elmer Punzalan of the DOH and Mr. Anthony Weymouth of the Australian Commission pose with the iconic leaf logo of Aspen Pharmacare at the launch of the company’s Philippine unit.

Dr. Fernando de Castro, Aspen Philippines Medical Director; Dr. Norma Ona, spouse of DOH Sec. Enrique Ona; Senator Edgardo J. Angara; Ambassador Agnes Nyamande-Pitso of South Africa; Mr. Greg Lan, Aspen Australia CEO; Ace Itchon, Aspen Philippines President and CEO; Mr. Trevor Ziman, Aspen Australia Deputy CEO; Mr. Keith Iu, Aspen Asia Director for Asian Markets; Asec. Elmer Punzalan of the DOH and Mr. Anthony Weymouth of the Australian Trade Embassy pose with the iconic leaf logo of Aspen Pharmacare at the launch of the company’s Philippine unit.

Lahat ng LGUs na malapit sa dadaanan ng misayl ng North Korea kinakailangan ang pag-iingat – Robredo

BALER, Aurora, Abril 12, 2012-Hinikayat ni Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo ang lahat ng local government units (LGUs) na malapit sa dadaanan ng long range ballistic missile ng North Korea na magsagawa ng kinakailangang pag-iingat upang mapangalagaan ang kanilang mga nasasakupan mula sa mga labi ng pagbagsak ng rocket.

 

Ibinigay niya ang babalang ito sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaang lokal na nasa mga Rehiyon 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 5, at Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

 

Inaasahang ilulunsad ng North Korean ang misayl nito sa ika-12 hanggang ika-16 ng Abril.

 

“Considering that the debris of the missile test might fall in Philippine territory, you are hereby directed to take all precautionary measures to prevent loss of lives and property (Isinasalang-alang na ang mga labi ng pansubok na misayl ay maaaring bumagsak sa teritoryo ng Pilipinas, kayo ay inaatasan na gawin ang lahat na hakbang sa pag-iingat upang maiwasan ang pagkawala ng mga buhay at ari-arian),” pagbibigay-diin ni Robredo.

 

Hinimok din ng hepe ng DILG ang mga local chief executive na ilagay sa alertong katayuan ang kani-kanilang disaster response unit para sa anumang mangyayari.

 

Idinagdag pa ni Robredo na dapat iulat kaagad ng publiko sa mga kinauukulan kung may mga labi ng rocket ang bumagsak sa kanilang lugar.

 

Una rito, inihayag ni Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator at National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Undersecretary Benito Ramos na ang bansa ay magpapatupad ng “no-fly zone (walang-liparang pook)” sa aerospace (kalawakan) kung saan ang mga labi ng misayl ay inaasahang tatama.

 

Sinabi ni Ramos na ipapatupad ng Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) at ng Philippine Air Force (AFP) ang “no-fly zone.”

 

Ang babagsakang lugar ay tinatayang mga 190 nautical miles sa hilagang-silangan ng Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

 

At dahil walang kakayahan ang Pilipinas upang mahadlangan ang mataas na paglipad ng misayl tulad ng Japan, South Korea, kung saan inalerto na ng mga interceptor unit nito upang wasakin ang rocket ng North Korea kapag dumaan ito sa kanilang kalawakan, sinabi ni Ramos na pagtitibayin ng bansa ang istratehiyang “get out of the line of fire” tulad ng pagpapatupad ng “no-fly zone” mula Abril 12-16.

 

Ang babala ay ipinadala na sa mga civilian air carriers at shipping lines na gumagamit sa lugar.  (Jojo S. Libranda)

QUALITY HEALTHCARE NEEDED IN THE COUNTRYSIDE – ANGARA

Senator Edgardo J. Angara called for improved access to healthcare in the countryside when he spoke at the recent launch of Aspen Philippines.

“Filipinos in rural areas have very limited access to quality healthcare facilities and professionals. It’s about time we address this issue,” he said.

Also present at the Aspen Philippines’ event were Ambassador Agnes Nyamande-Pitso of South Africa, Hon. Anthony Weymouth of the Australian Trade Commission, Department of Health Asec. Elmer Punzalan, and selected officials from Aspen.

“Aspen Philippines will meet the growing demand for quality but affordable generic medicines. Hopefully this will help bring down the prices of medicines especially for our folks in the countryside,” he said.

Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited is the largest listed pharmaceutical company in South Africa. It supplies branded and generic drugs in approximately 100 countries, but is distinguished for being one of the 20 leading generic manufacturers worldwide, as well as being South Africa’s number one generic brand.

Angara, Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, explained that despite the establishment of PhilHealth, whose enabling law he had sponsored, almost 40 percent of Filipinos remain without access to quality healthcare.

“That is the void we need to fill—the unresolved and unsolved dilemma of our country. As one philosopher once said, ‘Show me how a country treats the health of its citizens, and I will tell you its level of civilization’,” said the veteran legislator.

He cited his home province of Aurora as a prime example of rural health development in the Philippines, which is facing a unique adjustment problem.

“We just built a brand new hospital there, where Secretary Ona and I, together with the President just opened—modern and fully equipped. We brought in those nine specialists from Cabanatuan so that we could get outside advice on how we can run such a modern hospital in a rural environment,” he said.

In conclusion, Angara reiterated his call for reform especially in the country’s health sector.

“I’m glad that we now have a three-pronged approach to rehabilitating our health system. If you remember, about a year and a half ago, BBC ran a documentary on the status of the Philippine health system. Unless we do something about our health system, it will collapse in five years. So it’s about time that a progressive and dynamic reform is led by our Secretary Ona.” (Rikka Sotto)