Concepcion rallies private sector donation for vaccine

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said that the private sector is looking to donate vaccines to the government.

The vaccines will be coming from a leading pharmaceutical company that has a no-profit program within the pandemic. A portion of this donation will be allotted to the frontliners and vulnerable workers in the business sector following the guidelines set on the priority sector by the government.

Concepcion said he has been working closely with vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and the president of the aforementioned pharmaceutical company. He added that the idea came from Tessie Sy-Coson, chairman of BDO, who was already in discussion with the pharmaceutical company.

“I felt that it is important that that the Philippines should be part of the countries that will receive the vaccines estimated within 2021 and not be left behind. This is very important as it gives  hope to our Filipino people, especially our MSMEs, to hang on and that government and the private sector are working together to make it happen,” he said.

“Despite many of the donors facing challenges with the pandemic, as seen in the huge drop of profits, all of them see that the vaccine is the only way of addressing the virus and thus opening the economy, so lives will return back to normal,” he added.

Donors include International Container Terminal Services Inc., BDO, LT Group, San Miguel, Go Negosyo, Wilcon Depot, Yazaki Torres, LBC Express, Mercury, Universal Leaf, Aboitiz, Metro Pacific Investments Corp., GT Capital, First Pacific Health, and the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

“With God’s grace, we are looking to sign the tripartite agreement this coming week. This initiative is in addition to what the government will be procuring as well,” Concepcion concluded.