The country’s first vaccine manufacturing facility will break ground tomorrow, September 27, in Taysan, Batangas.
The P2.15-billion pioneering venture between Glovax Lifesciences Corp. (GLC) and the National Development Co. (NDC) will enhance the Philippines’ national health security and reduce its dependence on imports as its ensures accessibility of crucial vaccines.
A project brief of the collaboration shows the facility will have a capacity to produce 50 million doses of pentavalent, hepatitis and polio vaccines for the local market with the objective to export in seven years.
The facility sits on a 4-hectare property with phase one covering 5,000 square meters. Construction will be completed after a year and a half.
GLC is a Filipino vaccine distribution firm in partnership with Eubiologics Co. Ltd., a biopharmaceutical company from South Korea.
NDC is contributing P150 million to the venture as government partner in the project following the signing in May last year of a memorandum of understanding by NDC, Glovax, Eubiologics and the Board of Investments to collaborate and leverage resources for the development of a vaccine plant in the Philippines.
In a separate interview, BOI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo said the project is one of the matters discussed in crafting a free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea.
Rodolfo said the FTA has a specific provision on health cooperation especially that negotiations on the deal took place at the height of the pandemic. – Irma Isip
