Rains to continue over Metro Manila; FDA issues warning on medicines

MANILA, Philippines — The southwest monsoon enhanced by several low-pressure areas (LPA) will continue to bring rains over Metro Manila and parts of the country today, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The LPA inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) was monitored 615 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes as of 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The LPA has a low chance of developing into a tropical cyclone in the next 24 hours.

There are two other LPAs outside PAR that are influencing the southwest monsoon that is affecting parts of the country.

The monsoon is affecting Central and Southern Luzon and the Visayas.

The weather system will bring scattered rains over Metro Manila, Western Visayas, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro and Palawan.

Meanwhile, isolated light rains are forecast over the rest of the Visayas, Bicol region, the rest of Mimaropa and the rest of Calabarzon.

The rest of the country may see isolated rains due to localized thunderstorms.

PAGASA warned of possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to, at times, heavy rains.

Warning out vs drugs submerged in floods

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the public not to purchase and use health products, including medicines, that were submerged in floods caused by Typhoon Carina and the enhanced monsoon rains two weeks ago.

In its latest advisory, the FDA said “numerous factories, warehouses and establishments involved in the manufacturing, processing, packing or storage of health products – including drugstores and retail outlets – have been submerged in floodwaters, compromising the quality, safety, efficacy and purity of the products.”

“In the interest of public health, safety and welfare, the FDA has warned the public and establishments about health products that were submerged or otherwise affected by floods and are now being offered for sale or resale,” the agency noted.

Health products refer to food, drugs, cosmetics, devices, biologicals, vaccines, in-vitro diagnostic reagents or household/urban hazardous substances or a combination of, or a derivative thereof.

The FDA likewise said that instead of selling such products, stakeholders must adhere to the provisions of FDA Circular No. 2012-014.

For drugstores, retail stores and distributors, the agency advised not to sell, offer for sale or distribute affected health products which are already deemed adulterated.?

The FDA said, “Concerned outlets are enjoined to return the affected health products as much as possible to their respective sources.”

It also directed importers/manufacturers to accept for replacement returned goods and desist from distributing health products which were affected by flood.

The agency also advised pharmacies and drug manufacturers that affected health products, raw materials and packaging materials, should be disposed of in accordance with the proper disposal approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

It also ordered concerned Food-Drug Regulation Officers (FDRO) to immediately identify the affected establishments and conduct outright monitoring and, if possible, assess and coordinate with affected establishments to prevent distribution of products, the quality or safety of which have been compromised.

“The FDROs should also seize outright any damaged or affected health products for proper destruction at the expense of the establishment,” said the FDA.

The FDA also urged the public to report persons or entities dealing in the sale and distribution of affected health products to the Department of Health-FDA at 807-8275, DOH-Centers for Health Development or the Health Office of the local government units for immediate appropriate action.