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'VCO could strengthen immune system' By Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star) Updated May 03, 2009 12:00 AM MANILA, Philippines – Virgin coconut oil or VCO could be the country’s weapon against the deadly H1N1 flu virus, a new party-list representative said yesterday. “This crisis can be turned into a big opportunity for our coconut farmers and processors. The high lauric content of virgin coconut oil is known to strengthen the human immune system against microbes and viruses,” said former agriculture secretary Leonardo Montemayor. “Research and development on the possible use of VCO against (the H1N1) flu should be accelerated,” he said. Montemayor is one of 25 new party-list representatives sworn in by Speaker Prospero Nograles on Tuesday. He represents ABA-AKO, which he said is made up of farmers and fishermen. In Resolution 1121, Montemayor urged the House to immediately inquire into the government’s preparedness against the H1N1 flu, which he said has caused 150 deaths in Mexico and has been detected in the United States, Canada, Britain, Spain, Israel, and New Zealand. Aside from Montemayor, others who are advocating the consumption of VCO as an antidote to H1N1 flu are Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, vice chancellor for research at the University of the Philippines’ College of Medicine and former health secretary; Dr. Fabian Dayrit, dean of the School of Science and Engineering and chemistry professor at the Ateneo de Manila University; Cory Quirino, health and wellness advocate; Danilo Coronacion, president and chief executive officer of the Coconut Industry Investment Fund-Oil Mills Group and former administrator of the Philippine Coconut Authority; Tess Santos, president of the Virgin Coconut Oil Producers and Traders Association Inc.; Cesar Villariba, executive director of the Katipunan ng Katutubong Kalakalan ng Quezon; Gerardo Natividad, vice president for operations of the Maria Makiling Coconut Resources Corp.; Maria Socorro Hernandez, managing director of ICONS Management Consultancy Services; Len Ang-Isleta, general manager of MARICOR Ads Inc; and Bayani Nito of A-Curve Alternative Advocacy. “Congress should also inquire if local governments and defense authorities are prepared to meet local outbreaks,” Montemayor said. “If H1N1 flu should infect residents of a community, how will government stop its spread to other areas?” he asked. He urged the House, through its committees on health, agriculture and food, and other committees to determine whether anti-flu vaccines and other remedies are readily available, or need to be quickly developed and prepositioned in sufficient quantities to ensure the people’s health and safety