VCO manufacturer seeks government support for R&D

MANILA, Philippines — A  local manufacturer of virgin coconut oil (VCO) has urged government to provide more support for research and development (R&D) on the antiviral and immunomodulatory properties of VCO to provide more Filipinos an accessible and alternative way of protecting themselves against the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

Retired general surgeon Dr. Ed Lalusis, president and CEO of Growrich Manufacturing Inc., cited recent findings of a study on the efficacy of VCO at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) in Cebu City where all mild COVID-19 positive inmates and employees were treated and recovered from their COVID-19 infection, was just another reason to push for R&D that will establish the antiviral and immunomodulatory capabilities of VCO.

“The government should be more aggressive in supporting controlled studies to establish the medical benefits of VCO so that we can develop a much in demand product not only here in the country but all over the world because of this pandemic,” Lalusis told The STAR.