DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/ 20 October) – The Department of Health’s drug-making unit would begin manufacturing two more herbal drugs from the list of 10 certified herbal plants in the country. This will raise to five the total herbal drugs produced by the government. Wilfredo P. Principe, quality assurance manager of the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (Pitahc), said the herba buena (Mentha abvensis Linn.) and ampalaya, or bitter gourd, would see production next year for distribution to government hospitals nationwide.