FOOD and Drug Administration Director General Nela Charade Puno said they have joined the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency as an enforcement arm in the war against drugs.
She said the FDA regulated more than a quarter of the Philippine economy that deals with critical food and drug safety.
“We are mandated by law to ensure that only pure, safe, efficacious and good quality drugs, food, cosmetics, health products and devices are made available to the public,” said Puno.
She stressed the current proliferation of counterfeit, unregistered, adulterated and misbranded health products in the market poses danger to life, health and safety of the public.
“This is clearly contrary to the Constitution which states that it is the policy of the State to ‘protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.” Puno emphasized.
“This is why we in FDA, exercising our mandate, have pursued this strategic teamup with the Philippine National Police,” Puno added.
The joint task force of FDA and the PNP against counterfeit, unregistered, adulterated and misbranded drugs, food, cosmetics and health products recently conducted the FDA-PNP Enforcement Training for 111 PNP and FDA personnel at Eurotel Hotel in Quezon City.
This is the first batch of trainees of the joint task force.
She pointed out the teamwork was made even more urgent because the regulation and monitoring of the sale of controlled and addictive drugs and substances were critical components of President Duterte’s war against the illegal drug trade and drug abuse.
“I am excited with the powerful synergy that I expect to be formed between the FDA and the PNP, as the PNP provides additional law enforcement muscle in the FDA’s campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs and substances, and fake unregistered health products.” Puno said.
The recently concluded nine-day FDA-PNP Enforcement Training had 111 graduates.
Out of the 111, 95 were from the PNP from the different regions, and 16 were from FDA.
Thirty-one PNP participants were officers with four of them with the rank of General.
The PNP graduates will be deputized by FDA and will represent the FDA-PNP Task Force in their respective areas of responsibility.
Puno thanked the PNP leadership and its Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management for the “unqualified and full support to this FDA-PNP Teamwork.”
“I am pleased with this great beginning for the Joint FDA-PNP Task Force D-Punch which stands for Destroy Products Unfit for the Consumption of Humans,” she disclosed.
“We are one in our goal to minimize, if not eradicate, counterfeit, unregistered, adulterated and misbranded health products in the market that pose danger to life, health and safety of the public,” said Puno.
The Task Force aims to give the one-two-three punch that will knock out the syndicates who are plying their criminal trade on unsuspecting public.
Among the comprehensive topics covered in the training included The FDA Act of 2009, the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs, The Generics Act, the Pharmacy Law, The Food Safety Act, The Milk Code and the Cheaper Medicine Law.