"PUT PEOPLE'S SAFETY FIRST, STOP CHINA MILK IMPORTS" -- ROXAS

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said the entry of milk from China should be banned until the safety of consumers and of children are ensured.

He called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to inspect all retail outlets and to ensure that tainted milk coming from China is not being sold. He said DTI should tap the support of local governments and the police in the immediate recall of these products.

"Mas mabuti na kung magkamali man tayo, magkamali na tayo na nasa sigurado tayo, na nasa ligtas tayo. Kaysa magpapasok tayo ng gatas na kontaminado," Roxas said in an interview with Bombo Radyo in a nationwide simulcast.

"BFAD should take the lead since it is the agency equipped to inspect the safety of milk and other food products. DTI should also immediately act to ensure that no tainted milk is being sold in all retail outlets," he said.

Roxas supported the decision of the Bureau of Food and Drug (BFAD) to temporarily ban the importation and sale of milk from China until these are tested to be safe and not contaminated with hazardous substances such as melamine, a chemical that is used in the manufacturing of plastics.

The former DTI Secretary noted that milk imported from China only has a small share of total Philippine imports of milk, where bulk of which is sourced from Australia. Furthermore, diplomatic concerns should not take precedence of the need to ensure the safety of consumers.

"Dapat naman talagang manigurado tayo na ligtas ang gatas na iinumin natin, lalo na ng ating kabataan. Ang dapat nating isipin ay ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan. Kaya habang nagpapatuloy pa ang imbestigasyon dito, dapat nang manigurado tayo," Roxas said.

"China itself admitted that there is tainted milk. One of their officials even resigned over the issue. Kahit sa kanila, aminado na may problema sila," he said.