Medellin receives about-to-expire meds from GOCC

CEBU, Philippines - Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez has criticized a government owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) for donating Lagundi syrup amounting to almost P200,000 that are expiring on March 2014.

Ramirez further criticized the manager of the GOCC who was reportedly scared to cross Gibitngil Island where the medicines were supposed to be brought and instead asked the 408 families to get the medicines at the sports complex of the town proper.

“Kadaghan grupo nanghatag sa Gibitngil ma local o foreign wala man gani mag iningon,” Ramirez said.

The FREEMAN is withholding the name of the GOCC.

Ramirez said what the GOCC did was a big insult, saying that even the town’s rural health center does not purchase or distribute such kind of medicine to their constituents.

“Never and not even once in my six and a half years of being mayor have I ever approved the purchase of herbal medicines without any FDA license and in large quantities yet. There is certainly something wrong here,” he said.

Gibitngil Island is just a 15- minute boat ride from mainland Medellin.

Ramirez said he assured that the group will be provided with pumpboats plus he would personally accompany them in going to the island but they reportedly insisted on distributing the medicines at the Poblacion.

“I told them that I don’t want to do anything with their activity anymore because I felt offended and looked down upon,” Ramirez said.

“Mapasalamaton ta sa mga motabang but dili sad nato i-surrender atong dignidad kay tungod nalang tabangonon ta,” he added.

Ramirez said that he was informed by the town doctor that the group wants to get back the medicines it donated to the municipality.

“I instructed our doctor not to give it back because legally it is already the property of LGU Medellin,” Ramirez said. (FREEMAN)