Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat!
It is my pleasure to join the Department of Health (DOH) and the rest of the Filipino consumers in celebrating the Generics Month. This year’s theme, “Paigtingin ang Suplay, Generics gawing Abot-kamay!” reflects the goal of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to push for measures that will provide access to affordable medicines, especially for the poorest in society.
One of the ways in which the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is working toward this goal is through the strengthening of the country’s capacity to manufacture and supply generic medicines. This is meant to ensure their adequate, equitable, affordable, and efficient supply especially at this crucial time, when the health of the majority of Filipinos is at stake.
We are likewise pushing for measures to attract international pharmaceutical companies to make the Philippines their manufacturing hub and gateway to the rest of Asia. Our country is a good source of natural ingredients and herbs that are being used in pharmaceuticals worldwide. These companies can benefit from our country’s young and technologically-skilled manpower, strong government support, good policy environment, and regulatory incentives.
With the cooperation of all sectors concerned, our generics industry can be able to contribute significantly to the health and recovery needs especially of the marginalized sectors. By working on our capacity to locally produce drugs, including vaccines, we can create resilient and pandemic-proof health systems.
Currently, we have been encouraging vaccine manufacturers to establish plants in the country. Through a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) with DOH, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Food and Drug Authority (FDA), and the National Task Force (NTF), we have expedited the streamlining and processing of permits and clearances for the establishment of local vaccine manufacturing facilities. This was in accordance with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Presidential Directive (PD) No. 2021-029.
To date, the BOI has managed to talk with seven local companies that have expressed their interest to manufacture vaccines locally. Of the seven companies, four companies (equivalent to three projects) are progressing. Most of these companies are currently in discussions or negotiations with potential foreign manufacturers and technology providers from India, Korea, China, Taiwan, and possibly from the United States and Australia. For instance, Glovax Biotech has partnered with a Korean vaccine manufacturer to produce the EuCorVac-19 vaccines in the Philippines.
If conditions permit, fill-and-finish vaccine manufacturing operations may start as early as the second or third quarter of 2022. In the longer term, the PH government is also planning to establish a full-scale vaccine manufacturing facility. This is critical in giving the country a sense of security and self-sufficiency to address current and future health emergencies and pandemics.
USec Perry Rodolfo will be sharing more about this later, particularly about our incentive mechanisms for local manufacturing and production of vaccines and other pharmaceutical products.
As we continue to push for local manufacturing of vaccines, we also encourage our fellow citizens to get vaccinated. This will not only help protect us and our families from COVID-19, but also help sustain jobs for our local producers and manufacturers once production begins.
Together, let’s work and do our part in achieving our target of at least 70% vaccination rate for a healthier and safer Better Normal.
Maraming salamat po and more power to the generics industry! ♦
Date of Release: 22 September 2021