Malaya – September 18, 2007

PRESIDENT Arroyo yesterday urged private drug companies to import from India and sell their products at prices cheaper than those of multinational firms.

Arroyo, in a pulongbayan at the Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center, said the half-priced medicine program is a the monopoly of the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) and that anybody can buy from India without going through the PITC.

"In fact when I go to India on Oct. 4, I‘m inviting members of the drug store industry who want to buy half priced medicine from India," she said.

She said Malacañang will continue to push for the passage a law institutionalizing the cheaper medicine program.

Arroyo will go to New Delhi and Mumbai in India to reciprocate the state visit of former Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in February 2006.

On Oct. 4 and 5, the President is expected hold bilateral talks with Indian leaders led by its new president Pratibha Patil and meet with members of the Indian business community, led by those from the business process outsourcing industry.

Arroyo also told reporters in Dipolog City that she will also make a pitch for air rights for Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines in order to increase the flow of tourists from India.

She said she will also seek cooperation with India on the development of jatropha as an alternative fuel source. India is the pioneer in developing jatropha as substitute fuel.

Before going to India, Arroyo will go the United States to attend the UN General Assembly and speak before a women’s forum and to China to attend the Special Olympics World Summer Games and to visit Shanghai and Shandong.