“YES to licensing of Health Establishment and STOP the proliferation of unregistered health products in the market” was a resounding commitment expressed by participants during the Consumer Protection Advocacy Forum on FDA Licensing and Registration Requirements for Local Chief Executives and Partner Agencies cascaded on 24 May 2018 at the Hotel Estrella, Tacloban City by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

With the promise to do personal share to put an end to the problem of health establishments operating without a License To Operate (LTO) and the spread of unregistered/counterfeit health products in Eastern Visayas, FDA Director General Nela Charade G. Puno, asked to work hand in hand to ensure safe, efficient and quality health products to the public.

During the open forum, NNC VIII NOIII Nino Archie S. Labordo expressed the need for the continuous support to Asin Law through the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force Chaired by FDA. DG Puno mentioned that FDA and the Department of Health is currently having a strengthened monitoring strategy to address iodine deficiency in the country. Atty. Anabelle C. De Veyra, Director II FDA Visayas Cluster, relayed that FDA is monitoring intensively through point source salt monitoring in Region VII which is one of the main sources of household salt being sold in Eastern Visayas.

The first advocacy forum outside Metro Manila was attended in by FDAs Officials and Cluster Directors of the country. Included important topics during the forum are: Food and Drug Administration Mandates, Field Regulatory Operations, and Destroy Products Unfit for the Consumption of Humans (D-PUNCH). (Naslabordo, NNC8)