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President Gloria Arroyo and the United Opposition (UNO) hailed
Tuesday’s passage by Congress of the “Universally Accessible
Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008”
“In behalf of our people, she [President
Arroyo] wishes to thank the Senate and House of Representatives for
their dedication and hard work in coming up with an affordable
medicines law that we can all be proud of. This major milestone in
our quest for affordable medicines adds meaning to our forthcoming
celebration of Labor Day,” Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said in a
statement.
UNO spokesperson Adel Tamano said the opposition
supported the enactment of the cheaper medicines bill as long as the
executive department would be able to muster political will to
implement its provisions.
“The cheaper medicines bill deserves our
praise and support. It is not a magic bullet that will solve our
health crisis but is a step in the right direction,” Tamano said.
“We hope that the Arroyo administration will have the political
will to implement the provisions that will lower the cost of
medicine.”
The Senate and the House of Representatives on
Tuesday late afternoon ratified the cheaper medicines Bill that was
earlier approved by the bicameral conference committee.
Meanwhile, the Palace said that because of her
tight schedule, the President cannot immediately sign the bill into
law in time for May 1, even as officials earlier hyped it as a gift
to workers on Labor Day.
Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo
said that barring any sudden change in plans, President Arroyo would
be too busy to sign the bill into law on the eve of Labor Day.
The President would have wanted to sign it in
time for Labor Day, which is today, but the chances of that
happening are slim as of now.
-- Angelo S. Samonte
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