Declaring the Third Week of November of Every Year as the "National Consciousness Week Against Counterfeit Medicines"

June 15, 2010

PROCLAMATION NO. 2082

DECLARING THE THIRD WEEK OF NOVEMBER OF EVERY YEAR AS THE "NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS WEEK AGAINST COUNTERFEIT MEDICINES"

WHEREAS, the Department of Health (DOH) estimates that around 10 percent of the medicines available in the country is counterfeit; TSIDEa

WHEREAS, the serious threat to public health due to counterfeit medicines continue to exist and may potentially harm thousands of Filipinos;

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them, pursuant to Section 15, Article 2 of the 1987 Constitution and Section 2 of Republic Act No. 8203, otherwise known as the "Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare:

SECTION 1. Every third week of November of every year is hereby proclaimed as the "National Consciousness Week Against Counterfeit Medicines."

SECTION 2. There shall be a National Organizing Committee (NOC) to be headed by the DOH in the planning, coordination and implementation of comprehensive public awareness programs and activities on counterfeit medicines through a collaborative inter-agency and multi-sectoral effort at all levels. It shall particularly ensure widespread and expeditious public information about the proliferation and dangers of counterfeit medicines.

SECTION 3. The NOC shall be composed of DOH as lead agency, the Departments of Trade and Industry, Education, Interior and Local Government, the Philippine Information Agency, the Leagues of Provinces, Cities, Municipalities and Barangays, as members.

Stakeholders in the private sector are enjoined to collaborate and cooperate with the NOC in advocating and implementing activities to raise the level of consciousness of the public about the dangerous effects to health of using counterfeit medicines.

SECTION 4. The Department of Budget and Management is hereby directed to provide the necessary funding support for the expenses in connection with the implementation of this Proclamation, chargeable against appropriate funds for the purpose, subject to existing and pertinent budgetary, auditing rules and regulations.

SECTION 5. The NOC shall submit to the Office of the President, through the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), such status reports on all activities undertaken in furtherance of this Proclamation. CHDAEc

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 15th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Ten.