Cheaper medicines

President-elect Bongbong Marcos’ plan for the Philippines to partner with India in making generic drugs will considerably bring down the cost of medicines.

“India is one of the largest manufacturers of generic drugs. We could go into partnership so we could have production here in the Philippines,” said Marcos after meeting with Indian Ambassador Shambhu Kumaran.

The cost of essential drugs is so prohibitive that the poor can’t afford to buy them.

A giant drugstore chain reportedly makes a profit of 1,000 percent for medicines such as those for diabetes, hypertension, fever and infection.

As an example, if a branded medicine for hypertension sold by a drugstore chain was P100, the cost of the same medicine of the same brand from India would only cost P10.

If the government set up a pharmacy in every town or city dispensing generic medicines from India, big drug stores would be forced to bring down the prices of their medicines.

The poor would greatly benefit from the low cost of medicine as this sector is prey to all kinds of sickness.

*      *      *

The next climate change meetings will be held in Stockholm, Sweden from June 2 to 3, which President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte plans to attend before he steps down.

The President has said he regretted not giving much attention to climate change during his six-year term.

Climate change is caused by the degradation of the environment due to massive deforestation, pollution of water, ground and air resources, and other similar issues.

Air pollution is caused by carbon emissions from factories and motor vehicles.

Had Digong listened to this columnist early in his administration, there would have been less air pollution caused by motor vehicles now.

Most of the country’s trucks, buses, jeepneys, cars, ships and boats are culprits in polluting our air.

If you’re in an airplane above our capital city, you’ll see Metro Manila’s skyline enveloped in haze, which is mostly caused by emissions from motor vehicles.

I had suggested to the then newly-elected President Digong in 2016 that his government give attention to air pollution that causes lung ailments among the population.

Digong said he would take my advice, but apparently forgot about it.

I care for clean air as I suffer from lung ailments – such as coughing, runny nose and sore throat – when the haze over Metro Manila becomes thick.

Wanting to contribute to a state of cleaner air quality, I accepted years ago the offer from Omstar Corp., based in Los Angeles, California, to distribute DX-1 fuel and oil additives for motor vehicles.

Most of the country’s motor vehicles have old, defective engines which emit thick, black smoke from their exhaust.

Omstar DX-1 reduces motor vehicle emissions by as much as 90 percent.

Thick, black smoke from motor vehicles is caused by defective engines, which is “cured” by DX-1 by acting as a “metal soap” for cylinder lubrication.

By cleaning the engine of impurities such as sludge, DX-1 promotes a longer working engine life and saves on gasoline and diesel consumption by 10 to 20 percent.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under the late secretary Gina Lopez was to have used DX-1 on all motor vehicles of the department after intensive tests.

The plan to use the product on DENR vehicles didn’t push through after Lopez’s appointment was not approved by the bicameral Commission on Appointments.

Based on successful tests by the DENR, I approached the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to convince owners of motor vehicles who were renewing their registrations to try Omstar DX-1 for cleaner air.

Corruption – people asking for bribes – stopped me from pursuing my deal with some government and private agencies to use DX-1, which is considered “liquid gold” in the US, some countries in Europe and Mexico.

This may sound like sourgraping, but I’ve witnessed corruption up close and personal in the government, and even in some private offices, because of DX-1.

Even if I wanted to close deals for DX-1, I couldn’t engage in bribery, as that would be violating Omstar Corporation’s policy. Giving bribes is anathema and illegal to any US company.

A decade ago, I nearly closed a deal with Iran to supply that country with Omstar DX-1.

An Iranian official with the rank of minister surreptitiously came to Manila to talk with me and my principals from California.

Iran, I learned from the minister, is one of the most polluted countries in the world.

The deal didn’t push through because of Iran’s problematic relations with the US, the source of Omstar DX-1.

To contribute to cleaner air, my company has made DX-1 available in 30 ml. bottles at P148 each. Each bottle is good for 40 liters of gasoline or diesel.

Only one liter of DX-1 is needed for 1,280 liters of gasoline or diesel. Its former brand name was D-1280X because of the ratio.

*      *      *

The war between Russia and Ukraine has exponentially raised the prices of gasoline, diesel and other fuel products.

“Those who are using cars, you complain every day that fuel prices are getting higher by the hour. The reason for the higher prices is we do not have our own. We are importing the source of energy,” said President Digong.

May I humbly offer Omstar DX-1 to motor vehicle owners, including motorcyclists and tricycle drivers?

My 8-cylinder Toyota Land Cruiser, which is diesel-fueled, runs like it’s gasoline-fed. I save 20 percent on fuel costs using DX-1.

My friends whom I’ve convinced to use DX-1 on their cars speak highly of the product.

My company delivers DX-1 through delivery outlets like Lalamove and Grab in Metro Manila, and LBC, JRS, J&T in the provinces.

You may call 0915-926-3088, 0976-001-4413 or 0917-801-3843 for inquiries.