Change law for sari-sari stores to sell medicines

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said yesterday amendments to pharmaceutical laws are needed amid public outcry over the government’s crackdown on the unauthorized sale of medicines in sari-sari stores.

DILG spokesman Jonathan Malaya said the department would continue to enforce the law as it ordered local government units to issue ordinances prohibiting the sale of pharmaceutical products in sari-sari stores.

“DILG does not make the laws, it is Congress. I think this was passed in 2015 and it’s clear under Section 30 that sari-sari stores are not allowed to sell pharmaceutical products of whatever nature and kind,” Malaya said at a press briefing.

“If we want to change this policy, there must be an amendment to the law. Those who are criticizing the DILG for implementing the law, please don’t get mad at us because we did not make the law,” he added.

Malaya said the Food and Drug Administration had asked the DILG’s assistance in implementing the law amid the proliferation of fake medicines in the market.

Violators can be fined P100,000 or face penalty of over 30 days in prison.