Lack of importer’s information in product packaging

PERHAPS not everyone of us would really care, but I know that there are many patriotic Filipinos who would really want to know the countries of origins of the products that they are buying, for their own reasons.

More often than not however, they would like to know where the product is made, so that they could decide to buy the product or not.

The bad news is, there are hundreds, if not thousands of products out in the market that are not properly labelled, such that consumers do not have a way of knowing where those products are coming from.

The good news is, there is a law that requires importers and manufacturers to place the required information in their packaging, including its country of origin.

Although the Food, Drug and Cosmetics act mandates the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enforce the said law, its jurisdiction does not include all other products that could not be classified as foods, drugs and cosmetics.

Presumably, everything that could not fall under these three categories would fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Given the apparent overlaps between the jurisdictions of the FDA and the DTI, how are they coordinating their actions between the three of them?

And how would consumers which of the two to go to in case of complaints? And where could we see a running record of compliance?

And where can we find a list of our own homegrown products, just in case our own patriotism would inspire us to buy local?

FREE SUPPLY OF BLOOD BETWEEN HOSPITALS

I think that ideally, all hospitals, public and private, should have their own blood bank. If they do not have that yet, they should immediately make plans to put up one, because it really does not require rocket science to do it.

I know that the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Philippine Blood Center (PBC) could always supply blood when needed, but it is always good for the hospitals to have their

own.

The next best thing to the hospitals having their own blood banks is for all hospitals to have their own system of supplying blood to each other, free of charge, because after all, the law prohibits the buying and selling of blood.

What could take its place is a system of debits and credits that has no money involved. I am sure that the hospitals would be able to put up this computerized blood exchange system on their own, but I am willing to help them put it up if necessary.

In all probability, they might probably prefer to put up an internet based, cloud- based system, but if they will ask me, I will recommend to them to back it up with an SMS system that is not dependent on the internet, plus, a radio system that is not dependent on both the internet and the SMS system.

For good measure, it would be good for the blood banks to have a backup generator in the event of brownouts, plus a system of storage batteries that could be powered by solar panels. It’s always good to have backup./