Catholic Church leaders lauded the government for reducing in half the prices of essential drugs, saying the move would be most beneficial to the poor.

Church leaders led by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said the reduction in the prices of some of the essential drugs is what the Filipino people have long been waiting for.

"The people especially the poor have long been waiting for them to be able to buy cheaper medicines,” he said over Church-run Radio Veritas 846.

“Thank God the eyes of our government have finally been opened because this is what the people have long been asking.”

Even Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, is also thankful with the reduction in the prices of medicines saying this would be a big help to the poor.

“That’s a big help to the old and poor who are in need of medication,” he said.

Lagdameo, however, appealed to pharmaceutical companies not to reduce the content of their medicines with the price cut.

“It may be cheaper but the content is not the same. Hopefully, our fears will not be realized… and even if there are, it should be checked. It is only proper that they see to it that the reduction of prices are genuine.

“We have to see to that everybody will be honest about the matter,” he said.

On Monday, President Arroyo signed an executive order (EO) placing five essential medicines under a 50 percent price cap after drug makers opted to voluntarily halve prices of 16 out of 21 drugs the health department had recommended.