QUEZON CITY – Dr. Richard Nixon Gomez, scientist and inventor, and general manager of Bauertek Corporation, on Monday, September 25, disclosed that the global cannabis trade will be a US$ 180-billion industry by 2030.
During the Media Health Forum at Gerry’s Grill in Eton Centrist, Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, Dr. Gomez said “We want to participate in the Global Cannabis Trade, because by 2030, Medical Cannabis will be a US180-billion-dollar industry.
Kaya ngayon pa lang piniprepare na ang Bauertek for export. Kapag inexport sa ibang bansa, grabe ang balik sa bansa.”
Dr. Gomez went for one week to the big companies in the United States and saw for himself how they can be compared with the rest of the world.
“Sa United States, ligal ang Cannabis. Ligal din ang recreational Cannabis. Ano na ang preparasyon natin para once na aprobahan na sa Senado at Kongreso,” he said.
He added that “in terms of FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval. Kapag cosmetic, ito ang requirements. Kapag sinabing pharmaceutical, ito ang requirements.”
Dr. Gomez also noted that “Maraming Cannabis facilities sa Thailand na ang products ay for food supplements. Yung laboratory nila mababa, sa atin sa Pilipinas mataas.”
“Sa Pilipinas, ang Bauertek, we are going to expand not just the facility but also the advocacy,” he said.
“We met with the Cannabis experts in the United States, and had honest to goodness conversation with them. Alam nila ang equipment na gagawin sa Bauertek. Para sa new Cannabis facility sa Bauertek, that will be number one in the world,” he added.
When it comes to standards, Dr. Gomez said “We are embarking to a new multi-million-dollar facility that we will launch in the Philippines. It was moved in the middle of November because of the experts who would like to see us in our breaking, which was supposed to be launched by the middle of October.”
He added that “200 direct employees, bukod pa sa maraming apprentice na kukunin natin doon, na magtetraining sa atin. Marami tayong scientist na working abroad because there are no notable undertakings in the Philippines kaya nag-istay sila doon. Bahagi na rin ng suporta ng Bauertek sa ‘Balik Scientist’ program ng DOST.”
“Alam ng malalaking pharmaceutical companies sa mundo na nagventure sa Cannabis. They are about to do a phase 3 of the clinical trial,” Dr. Gomez said.
“We will do the clinical trials in the Philippines. It’s 50 million dollars. Pag clinical trial, kailangan nila ng all the materials they will need that will be provided by Baurtek for the Phase 3 of the clinical trial,” he added.
“Instead of them making the extract, Bauertek will provide the extract to be used in the phase 3 clinical trial as if it is owned by them,” Dr. Gomez said.
“Cannabis will be legalized in the Philippines, whether you like it or not. Not a question of whether to be approved or not, but it is a question of when. Marami pa tayong matutunan at yon ang dapat maibahagi natin sa TWG,” he added.
Dr. Gomez said that Bauertek is 100 percent Filipino-owned at 100 percent Filipino employees.
“Lahat ng gagastusin nila sa US ay gagastusin nila sa Pilipinas na may halagang 50 million dollars. 100 farmers ang magtatrabaho doon sa biggest facility at 100 na magtatrabaho sa loob ng facility such as chemists, with 100-bed facility inside,” he added.
“Ang daming resources ng government, ang daming researches ang government. PPP (Public Private Partnership) ay napakaganda nyan. This is supported by the government at lahat ng activities natin doon ay in collaboration with government,” Dr. Gomez said.
“Nirerespeto, sinusuportahan at ginagalang natin ang mandate ng DDB (Dangerous Drugs Board). Given the chance to enlighten the experts of DDB about the Cannabis, we will do so,” he added.
Dr. Gomez said that “the moment na maging ligal yan (Cannabis) sa Pilipinas, the next day, gagamitin na natin yan.”
A few weeks ago, Dr. Gomez signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Science of Technology (DOST).
“DOST is very well aware of our advocacy. Secretary Dela Pena and Sec. Renato Solidum are aware of Bauertek,” he said.
“Sila ay sumusuporta sa atin at sila ay magiging bahagi ng Philippine Medical Cannabis Authority. Alam nila na ang Cannabis ay gamot. Sa PMCA at Philippine Medical Cannabis Development Center ay hindi kasama ang Department of Health,” Dr. Gomez noted.
“Karamihan po ng ating legislators ay sumusuporta sa Medical Cannabis legalization. Isang dahilan kung bakit kami nagpupunta sa ibang bansa ay para sa ‘benchmarking’. Bago kami pumunta doon, sila muna ay nagpunta sa Bauertek at nagbenchmarking,” he added.
“When it comes to medical, technology, ang Bauertek advanced,” Dr. Gomez said.
“Sa ngayon, 9 proposed bills in Congress, lahat ay outdated at lumang-luma na. Ngayon sa TWG, icoconsolidate sila at iuupdate. Pagkatapos ng TWG, maaupdate na ang proposed bills,” he added.
According to Dr. Gomez, the multi-million dollars facility will consist of Part 1 admin area which is 13 times the size of existing Bauertek facility, Part 2 is exactly the same size, and the Part 3 Greenhouse is four times the size and the outdoor farm and 100 hectares for expansion.
For his part, Dr. Rigel Gomez, scientist and inventor, and president of Bauertek Corporation, said “We went to the biggest Cannabis facility in the United States. Sometimes we have to go to know where to see them. In the US, it’s legal to sell, grow Cannabis.”
“We started with the proper media information through the Media Health Forum. The right medicine for the right disease. We need to find the right medicine for the right problem,” he added.
In the US, Dr. Gomez said, “the regulations are very confusing. We want to find the proper combination for the right medication.”
“I can confidently say yes that the facilities in the Philippines will pass the quality and standards. Our one facility (Bauertek) in the Philippines is the most advanced facility in the whole of Asia,” he added.
“Yes, we can compete in the world. The Philippines has many advantages compared to the United States and Israel. The Philippines is the best location to grow Medical Cannabis,” Dr. Gomez said.
“We also have the advantage that Bauertek will have the best facility in Asia. The Philippines is the best place to grow Cannabis,” he added.
“It’s difficult to grow Cannabis in Israel as they have to spend much money to have them in indoor facilities,” Dr. Gomez said.
“Phase 1 small scale, phase 2 big scale, phase 3 very big scale that would require thousands of dollars. We are looking at putting the biggest facility by next year. Everyone is supposed to benefit from this (Medical Cannabis),” he added.
“We are following the law. If the law says it’s legal then it’s legal. If it’s illegal, the it’s illegal. We are looking for controlled doses, regulated Medical Cannabis because we want to stop the stigma of Medical Cannabis. We want to educate the Filipinos that Medical Cannabis is not for ‘party-party’,” Dr. Gomez said.
“There are many benefits of Cannabis such as CBD anti-pain, THC psychedelic, non-psychedelic version wherein you lose your appetite, more energy. If you find a person who is “high” it will be reversed,” he added. – By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
