More PH firms join bid to secure COVID-19 vaccine
MANILA, Philippines — More private firms are securing orders for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine as the country continues its fight against the pandemic.
Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said this is part of the “A Dose Hope” initiative, which entails securing AstraZeneca vaccines.
Concepcion said Ayala Corporation had confirmed 400,000 doses of vaccines; Palawan Pawnshop has ordered 100,000 doses, Okada Manila with 40,000 doses; Uratex Philippines with 21,000 doses; Century Pacific Food with 20,000 doses; Unioil Petroleum Philippines, Inc. with 20,000 doses; Golden Arches Development Corporation with 15,000 doses; and Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. with 10,000 doses, among other firms.
“When they told me that, the number of calls and inquiries from the private sector [was] increasing. Although we expected it somehow, we were happy that more and more private sector partners are now taking their part in this initiative – ending the war against COVID-19,” Concepcion said in a statement.
“This only means that the business community is very serious in ensuring that our economy will remain open while slowly ending this war,” he added.
Concepcion said more than 200 companies have already expressed their pledge and interest in procuring the vaccines.
He added that meetings with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the Entrepreneurs Organization, the Philippine Franchise Association, The Association of the Filipino Franchisers Inc., Philippine Ecozone Developers, Philippine Hotel Associations, Inc., and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc., and George Barcelon of PCCI among others, has also immediately ensued upon the announcement for the second batch.
Concepcion said that various business entities, like microfinance institutions (MFIs), had also been in contact with Go Negosyo.
He explained that the earlier MFIs’ operations would resume, the more micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) would receive assistance from these institutions.
With the concerning state of our MSMEs, Concepcion said the initiative could serve as one step into helping the enterprises bounce back.
“So two fronts kasi yan, both from the government side, they’re taking care of the public sector, kami naman sa private sector – teamwork kami. So, if we’re able to execute, mas madaling sagupain itong pandemya,” Concepcion said.
(So that’s two fronts, both from the government side. They’re taking care of the public sector; we are in the private sector – we are teamwork. So, if we’re able to execute, it’s easier to deal with this pandemic.)
“Sa kapasidad namin, tutulong din kami. If the private sector will not help, the economy will remain restricted,” he added.
(In our capacity, we will also help. If the private sector will not help, the economy will remain restricted.) [ac]
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