13 December 2005
OPINION: Star Anise plant: Asian flora holds world’s survival
AFTER ALL
Behn Fer. Hortaleza, Jr
SOMEHOW lost in the loud media drumbeating and government euphoria over the news that drug manufacturing giant Unilab is going to manufacture and donate US $1.25 million worth of oseltamivir, the anti bird flu drug, is the significant role of Asian plants and natural herbs in protecting all of mankind in this health-threatening age.
Buried quite deep in the reporting or narration of Unilab’s humanitarian gesture is the fact that the original main ingredient for oseltamivir (brand name: Tamiflu) comes from Star Anise, a kind of plant grown commercially in only four provinces of China.
It should not be lost on the western world and the more developed countries that if the bird flu scourge ever comes to a head, their very own survival could oneday rest on the primitive, exotic natural resources of the Asian continent. Not that this should be something the Chinese, and Asians for that matter, should view – or use --as a kind of leverage with the pale-faced brothers in the other part of the world because, in the case of an avian influenza pandemic, we’re talking of the whole human race and gloating or selfishness is out of the question.
Given the western countries’ highly advanced science and technology capabilities and determination however, it should not be farfetched to expect them to come up with synthetic products or similar drugs in the future, perhaps finding a plant with essentially the same qualities and chemical composition as the Star Anise.
But then that would time take. And time is what the human race would be in short supply of once – God forbid – we are faced with the feared pandemic. Sourcing out raw materials, not to mention the actual manufacturing process for drugs, requires months and years. We could just imagine therefore how everyone in this planet probably wishes and prays that the heavens always protect the Star Anise plantations in those four provinces of China.
As thought in a strange twist of fate, it is in China where some of the world’s most recent bird flu cases have been reported. Stranger still, no one among the wire agencies seems to be reporting whether or not Chinese healthmen are or have been administering oseltamivir drugs on those flu cases, and whether or not, it has proved to be effective enough as a course of treatment.
Over here, we Filipinos can only wonder – and pray.
* * *
How could the honorables of the sangguniang panlungsod of Dagupan have missed it?
We mean, the legal need for an imprimatur of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) before they could ever make money, okay, raise revenues on the national road thru the charging of roadside parking fees. As City Legal Officer Geraldine ‘Dindin” Baniqued almost coyly pointed out when pressed by nosey newshounds about the seeming faux pas of the gallant men and women of Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez, the legislative chamber is not wanting of legal minds to guide that body in the passage of city laws.
But this time, to put it mildly, they goofed; and now Atty. Dindin has to come out and say that indeed, such a measure as pay parking on national roads needs clearance, if not approval, of the DPWH. On the side, she admits she was never consulted by the legislators on their plan, otherwise she could have advised them.
So, we guess, it’s back to the drawing board for the ladies and gents of the city council. VM and Presiding Officer Alvin had intimated as much when cornered by newsmen Roland Hidalgo, Ding Micua and other reporters at the last session asking whether a public hearing on the pay parking issue is forthcoming. The vice mayor said calling a public hearing is within the jurisdiction of the concerned SP committees.
From where we sit, (we could be dead wrong, you know!) that sounds very much like our relative Alvin is not about to take more heat than he should on a very “hot”issue, courtesy of his, ah, exuberant (over-eager?) wards in the chamber.
Behn Fer. Hortaleza, Jr
SOMEHOW lost in the loud media drumbeating and government euphoria over the news that drug manufacturing giant Unilab is going to manufacture and donate US $1.25 million worth of oseltamivir, the anti bird flu drug, is the significant role of Asian plants and natural herbs in protecting all of mankind in this health-threatening age.
Buried quite deep in the reporting or narration of Unilab’s humanitarian gesture is the fact that the original main ingredient for oseltamivir (brand name: Tamiflu) comes from Star Anise, a kind of plant grown commercially in only four provinces of China.
It should not be lost on the western world and the more developed countries that if the bird flu scourge ever comes to a head, their very own survival could oneday rest on the primitive, exotic natural resources of the Asian continent. Not that this should be something the Chinese, and Asians for that matter, should view – or use --as a kind of leverage with the pale-faced brothers in the other part of the world because, in the case of an avian influenza pandemic, we’re talking of the whole human race and gloating or selfishness is out of the question.
Given the western countries’ highly advanced science and technology capabilities and determination however, it should not be farfetched to expect them to come up with synthetic products or similar drugs in the future, perhaps finding a plant with essentially the same qualities and chemical composition as the Star Anise.
But then that would time take. And time is what the human race would be in short supply of once – God forbid – we are faced with the feared pandemic. Sourcing out raw materials, not to mention the actual manufacturing process for drugs, requires months and years. We could just imagine therefore how everyone in this planet probably wishes and prays that the heavens always protect the Star Anise plantations in those four provinces of China.
As thought in a strange twist of fate, it is in China where some of the world’s most recent bird flu cases have been reported. Stranger still, no one among the wire agencies seems to be reporting whether or not Chinese healthmen are or have been administering oseltamivir drugs on those flu cases, and whether or not, it has proved to be effective enough as a course of treatment.
Over here, we Filipinos can only wonder – and pray.
* * *
How could the honorables of the sangguniang panlungsod of Dagupan have missed it?
We mean, the legal need for an imprimatur of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) before they could ever make money, okay, raise revenues on the national road thru the charging of roadside parking fees. As City Legal Officer Geraldine ‘Dindin” Baniqued almost coyly pointed out when pressed by nosey newshounds about the seeming faux pas of the gallant men and women of Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez, the legislative chamber is not wanting of legal minds to guide that body in the passage of city laws.
But this time, to put it mildly, they goofed; and now Atty. Dindin has to come out and say that indeed, such a measure as pay parking on national roads needs clearance, if not approval, of the DPWH. On the side, she admits she was never consulted by the legislators on their plan, otherwise she could have advised them.
So, we guess, it’s back to the drawing board for the ladies and gents of the city council. VM and Presiding Officer Alvin had intimated as much when cornered by newsmen Roland Hidalgo, Ding Micua and other reporters at the last session asking whether a public hearing on the pay parking issue is forthcoming. The vice mayor said calling a public hearing is within the jurisdiction of the concerned SP committees.
From where we sit, (we could be dead wrong, you know!) that sounds very much like our relative Alvin is not about to take more heat than he should on a very “hot”issue, courtesy of his, ah, exuberant (over-eager?) wards in the chamber.
