MANILA, Feb. 22 -- There are now over 2,000 Value Added Tax (VAT)-exempt drugs for the prevention and management of specific illnesses, including some of the most prevalent among the population, Senator Sonny Angara said Thursday.

Filipinos suffering from cancer, hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, mental illness, high cholesterol and tuberculosis will now have more medicines available to them at affordable prices following the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) endorsement of 20 more drugs for VAT exemption.

"Nagpapasalamat tayo sa paglabas ng panibagong listahan ng 20 na gamot para sa mga sakit tulad ng hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol at kidney diseases na karaniwang nararanasan ng marami sa ating mga kababayan (We thank ...